| Title: | Response selectivity of neocortical neurons to specific odors in the rabbit |
| Author(s): | Onoda N; Imamura K; Obata E; Iino M; |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0022-3077 (Print) 0022-3077 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Odor responses of neocortical neurons in rabbits under light pentobarbital anesthesia were studied in a restricted area in the lateral half of the prefrontal cortex close to the frontal pole. A preevent cumulative sum chart provided a visual display of the change in unit discharge rate following each odor stimulation, and critical levels on each chart provided a visual display of statistical significance. The neocortical neurons studied were activated predominantly by biologically significant odors, such as feces, urine, and dry food. Of those same neurons, 90% failed to respond to pure-chemical odors, and no neurons were found that responded to pure-chemical odors alone. Some neurons responded exclusively to one of the animal-product odors. Some odor-sensitive neurons were affected by electrical stimulation of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. Responses to the animal-product odors were observed after ablation of the trigeminal and/or vomeronasal inputs. The responses to these pheromone-like substances are discussed in the context of a central role for odor-sensitive neocortical neurons in cognitive aspects of discrimination of specific odor patterns in the mammals" |
| Keywords: | Animals Brain Mapping Female Frontal Lobe/drug effects/*physiology Male Odorants Olfactory Pathways/drug effects/physiology Pentobarbital/pharmacology Rabbits Rats Smell/drug effects/*physiology Thalamic Nuclei/physiology; |
| Notes: | "MedlineOnoda, N Imamura, K Obata, E Iino, M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 1984/10/01 J Neurophysiol. 1984 Oct; 52(4):638-52. doi: 10.1152/jn.1984.52.4.638" |
