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J Exp Biol

Title:		Experience influences elemental and configural perception of certain binary odour mixtures in newborn rabbits
Author(s):		Sinding C; Thomas-Danguin T; Crepeaux G; Schaal B; Coureaud G;
Address:		"Centre des Sciences du Gout et de l'Alimentation, UMR 6265 CNRS, UMR 1324 INRA, Universite de Bourgogne, Agrosup Dijon, Dijon, France"
Journal Title:		J Exp Biol
Year:		2011
Volume:		214
Issue:		Pt 24
Page Number:		4171 - 4178
DOI:		10.1242/jeb.063610
ISSN/ISBN:		1477-9145 (Electronic) 0022-0949 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Elemental and configural olfactory perception allows interaction with the environment from very early in life. To evaluate how newborn rabbits can extract and respond to information from the highly complex chemical surroundings, and how experience acts on this sensory, cognitive and behavioural capability, we ran a study in four steps including a total of eight experiments. We mainly used a binary AB mixture comprising ethyl isobutyrate (component A) and ethyl maltol (component B), previously shown as a bearer of blending properties; in rabbit pups (as in human adults), the mixture elicits a weak configural perception, i.e. the perception of a configural odour different from the odours of the components. First, a repeated exposure to one component of AB led to a more elemental perception of this mixture; conversely, a repeated exposure to AB facilitated its configural processing. Second, similar impact of experience did not appear with a non-blending AC mixture (ethyl isobutyrate-guaiacol). Third, repeated exposure to AB impacted not only the perception of AB, but also and in the same way the perception of the AC mixture sharing one component, and reciprocally. However, facilitation to perceive one mixture in one mode (configural/elemental) was not generalized to a mixture sharing no components with the experienced mixture [AB versus DE (damascenone and vanillin)]. Thus, experience contributes to the neonatal perception of odour mixtures and adds plasticity to the perceptual system. However, this impact remains dependent on the chemical composition of the mixtures"
Keywords:		"Animals Animals, Newborn/*physiology Conditioning, Psychological Female Male *Odorants/analysis *Olfactory Perception Pheromones/metabolism Rabbits/*physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineSinding, Charlotte Thomas-Danguin, Thierry Crepeaux, Guillemette Schaal, Benoist Coureaud, Gerard eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/11/26 J Exp Biol. 2011 Dec 15; 214(Pt 24):4171-8. doi: 10.1242/jeb.063610"