SINGLE UNIT RESPONSES OF OLFACTORY-BULB NEURONS TO ODOR PRESENTATION IN AWAKE RABBITS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 76  (6) , 551-558
Abstract
The changes in single unit activity induced by short odor presentations were studied in the olfactory bulbs of awake rabbits. An accurate evaluation of the cell responses required the separate processing of the inspiration- and expiration-related activity. Three main types of response were observed during odor presentation. One was characterized by an increase in firing over several successive inspirations, with a decrease in the corresponding expiratory phases. The other 2 were characterized by an inspiration-related increase or decrease in activity without any modifications during expiration. The end of odor presentation led to inconsistent off-effects in the cells affected by the stimulation. The most conspicuous were: a complete cessation of the firing for several respiratory cycles following an excitation, an excitatory rebound following inhibition, a reversal of the respiratory phase-related discharge, i.e., activity decrease during inspiration and increase during expiration. Previous studies on anesthetized animals, together with their relevance to sensory coding in the olfactory bulb, were discussed.

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