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Findley TM, Wyrick DG, Cramer JL, Brown MA, Holcomb B, Attey R, Yeh D, Monasevitch E, Nouboussi N, Cullen I, Songco JO, King JF, Ahmadian Y, Smear MC. Sniff-synchronized, gradient-guided olfactory search by freely moving mice. eLife 2021; 10:e58523. [PMID: 33942713 PMCID: PMC8169121 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
For many organisms, searching for relevant targets such as food or mates entails active, strategic sampling of the environment. Finding odorous targets may be the most ancient search problem that motile organisms evolved to solve. While chemosensory navigation has been well characterized in microorganisms and invertebrates, spatial olfaction in vertebrates is poorly understood. We have established an olfactory search assay in which freely moving mice navigate noisy concentration gradients of airborne odor. Mice solve this task using concentration gradient cues and do not require stereo olfaction for performance. During task performance, respiration and nose movement are synchronized with tens of milliseconds precision. This synchrony is present during trials and largely absent during inter-trial intervals, suggesting that sniff-synchronized nose movement is a strategic behavioral state rather than simply a constant accompaniment to fast breathing. To reveal the spatiotemporal structure of these active sensing movements, we used machine learning methods to parse motion trajectories into elementary movement motifs. Motifs fall into two clusters, which correspond to investigation and approach states. Investigation motifs lock precisely to sniffing, such that the individual motifs preferentially occur at specific phases of the sniff cycle. The allocentric structure of investigation and approach indicates an advantage to sampling both sides of the sharpest part of the odor gradient, consistent with a serial-sniff strategy for gradient sensing. This work clarifies sensorimotor strategies for mouse olfactory search and guides ongoing work into the underlying neural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Findley
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - David G Wyrick
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Jennifer L Cramer
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Morgan A Brown
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Blake Holcomb
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Robin Attey
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Dorian Yeh
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Eric Monasevitch
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Nelly Nouboussi
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Isabelle Cullen
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Jeremea O Songco
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Jared F King
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Yashar Ahmadian
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
- Computational & Biological Learning Lab, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Matthew C Smear
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
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de Groot JHB, Kirk PA, Gottfried JA. Titrating the Smell of Fear: Initial Evidence for Dose-Invariant Behavioral, Physiological, and Neural Responses. Psychol Sci 2021; 32:558-572. [PMID: 33750239 PMCID: PMC8726592 DOI: 10.1177/0956797620970548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well accepted that emotional intensity scales with stimulus strength. Here, we used physiological and neuroimaging techniques to ask whether human body odor-which can convey salient social information-also induces dose-dependent effects on behavior, physiology, and neural responses. To test this, we first collected sweat from 36 males classified as low-, medium-, and high-fear responders. Next, in a double-blind within-subjects functional-MRI design, 31 women were exposed to three doses of fear-associated human chemosignals and neutral sweat while viewing face morphs varying between expressions of fear and disgust. Behaviorally, we found that all doses of fear-sweat volatiles biased participants toward perceiving fear in ambiguous morphs, a dose-invariant effect generally repeated across physiological and neural measures. Bayesian dose-response analysis indicated moderate evidence for the null hypothesis (except for the left amygdala), tentatively suggesting that the human olfactory system engages an all-or-none mechanism for tagging fear above a minimal threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper H. B. de Groot
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University
| | - Peter A. Kirk
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London
| | - Jay A. Gottfried
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
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Mainland JD, Barlow LA, Munger SD, Millar SE, Vergara MN, Jiang P, Schwob JE, Goldstein BJ, Boye SE, Martens JR, Leopold DA, Bartoshuk LM, Doty RL, Hummel T, Pinto JM, Trimmer C, Kelly C, Pribitkin EA, Reed DR. Identifying Treatments for Taste and Smell Disorders: Gaps and Opportunities. Chem Senses 2020; 45:493-502. [PMID: 32556127 PMCID: PMC7545248 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjaa038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemical senses of taste and smell play a vital role in conveying information about ourselves and our environment. Tastes and smells can warn against danger and also contribute to the daily enjoyment of food, friends and family, and our surroundings. Over 12% of the US population is estimated to experience taste and smell (chemosensory) dysfunction. Yet, despite this high prevalence, long-term, effective treatments for these disorders have been largely elusive. Clinical successes in other sensory systems, including hearing and vision, have led to new hope for developments in the treatment of chemosensory disorders. To accelerate cures, we convened the "Identifying Treatments for Taste and Smell Disorders" conference, bringing together basic and translational sensory scientists, health care professionals, and patients to identify gaps in our current understanding of chemosensory dysfunction and next steps in a broad-based research strategy. Their suggestions for high-yield next steps were focused in 3 areas: increasing awareness and research capacity (e.g., patient advocacy), developing and enhancing clinical measures of taste and smell, and supporting new avenues of research into cellular and therapeutic approaches (e.g., developing human chemosensory cell lines, stem cells, and gene therapy approaches). These long-term strategies led to specific suggestions for immediate research priorities that focus on expanding our understanding of specific responses of chemosensory cells and developing valuable assays to identify and document cell development, regeneration, and function. Addressing these high-priority areas should accelerate the development of novel and effective treatments for taste and smell disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Linda A Barlow
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Steven D Munger
- Center for Smell and Taste, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1200 Newell Drive, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah E Millar
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Natalia Vergara
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Peihua Jiang
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James E Schwob
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradley J Goldstein
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 40 Duke Medicine Cir Clinic 1F, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shannon E Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Martens
- Center for Smell and Taste, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1200 Newell Drive, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Donald A Leopold
- Division of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Linda M Bartoshuk
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Richard L Doty
- Smell and Taste Center and Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce Street, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jayant M Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, MC, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Edmund A Pribitkin
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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de Groot JHB, Beetsma DJV, van Aerts TJA, le Berre E, Gallagher D, Shaw E, Aarts H, Smeets MAM. From sterile labs to rich VR: Immersive multisensory context critical for odors to induce motivated cleaning behavior. Behav Res Methods 2020; 52:1657-70. [PMID: 31965478 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-019-01341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Extending traditional research methods for studying the effects of odor on behavior, this study applied virtual reality (VR) to create a real-world, immersive context that was compared with a traditional sterile, non-immersive lab setting. Using precise odor administration with olfactometry, participants were exposed to three odors (cleaning-related pleasant smell, cleaning-unrelated pleasant smell: vanillin, and odorless air). Our aim was to tease apart whether participants’ motivation to clean was driven by cleaning associations and/or odor pleasantness, and how context would accentuate these effects. The results indeed showed that, in VR only, the cleaning-related smell elicited faster and more energetic cleaning behavior on a custom-designed cleaning task, and faster and more voluminous olfactory sampling compared with controls (vanillin, air). These effects were not driven by odor valence, given the general absence of significant differences between the pleasant control odor vanillin and odorless air. In sum, combining rigorous experimental control with high ecological validity, this research shows the context dependency of (congruent) odors affecting motivated behavior in an immersive context only.
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Catania KC. All in the Family - Touch Versus Olfaction in Moles. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 303:65-76. [PMID: 30614659 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Here I review, compare, and contrast the neurobiology and behavior of the common, eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) and the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata). These two species are part of the same family (Talpidae) and have similar body size and general morphology. But they differ in sensory specializations, complexity of neocortical organization, and behavior. The star-nosed mole has an elaborate mechanosensory organ-the star-consisting of 22 epidermal appendages (rays) covered with 25,000 touch domes called Eimer's organs. This densely innervated structure is represented in the neocortex in three different somatosensory maps, each visible in flattened neocortical sections as a series of 11 modules representing the 11 rays from the contralateral body. The 11th ray is greatly magnified in primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Behavioral studies show the star is moved in a saccadic manner and the 11th ray is a high-resolution tactile fovea, allowing star-nosed moles to forage on small prey with unprecedented speed and efficiency. In contrast, common mole noses lack Eimer's organs, their neocortex contains only two cortical maps of the nose, and they cannot localize small prey. Yet common moles have exceptional olfactory abilities, sniffing in stereo to rapidly localize discrete odor sources originating from larger prey. In addition, common moles are shown to track odorant trails laid down by moving prey. These results highlight the surprising abilities of species once thought to be simple, and the usefulness of diverse species in revealing general principles of brain organization and behavior. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth C Catania
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, VU Station B, Box 35-1634, Nashville, Tennessee
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Abstract
Nasal airflow plays a critical role in olfaction by transporting odorant from the environment to the olfactory epithelium, where chemical detection occurs. Most studies of olfaction neglect the unsteadiness of sniffing and assume that nasal airflow and odorant transport are "quasi-steady," wherein reality most mammals "sniff." Here, we perform computational fluid dynamics simulations of airflow and odorant deposition in an anatomically accurate model of the coyote (Canis latrans) nasal cavity during quiet breathing, a notional quasi-steady sniff, and unsteady sniffing to: quantify the influence of unsteady sniffing, assess the validity of the quasi-steady assumption, and investigate the functional advantages of sniffing compared to breathing. Our results reveal that flow unsteadiness during sniffing does not appreciably influence qualitative (gross airflow and odorant deposition patterns) or quantitative (time-averaged olfactory flow rate and odorant uptake) measures of olfactory function. A quasi-steady approximation is, therefore, justified for simulating time-averaged olfactory function in the canine nose. Simulations of sniffing versus quiet breathing demonstrate that sniffing delivers about 2.5 times more air to the olfactory recess and results in 2.5-3 times more uptake of highly- and moderately-soluble odorants in the sensory region per unit time, suggesting one reason why dogs actively sniff. Simulations also reveal significantly different deposition patterns in the olfactory region during inspiration for different odorants, and that during expiration there is little retronasal odorant deposition in the sensory region. These results significantly improve our understanding of canine olfaction, and have several practical implications regarding computer simulation of olfactory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex D Rygg
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Blaire Van Valkenburgh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Brent A Craven
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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Abstract
In the last decade, drastic changes in the understanding of the role of the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex in odor detection have taken place through awake behaving recording in rodents. It is clear that odor responses in mitral and granule cells are strikingly different in the olfactory bulb of anesthetized versus awake animals. In addition, sniff recording has evidenced that mitral cell responses to odors during the sniff can convey information on the odor identity and sniff phase. Moreover, we review studies that show that the mitral cell conveys information on not only odor identity but also whether the odor is rewarded or not (odor value). Finally, we discuss how the substantial increase in awake behaving recording raises questions for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Nunez-Parra
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center and Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Anan Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center and Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO, USA; State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Diego Restrepo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center and Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado Medical School, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Chhetri DK, Neubauer J, Sofer E. Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle dynamics in canines and humans. Laryngoscope 2014; 124:2363-7. [PMID: 24781959 DOI: 10.1002/lary.24742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle is the sole abductor of the glottis and serves important functions during respiration, phonation, cough, and sniff. The present study examines vocal fold abduction dynamics during PCA muscle activation. STUDY DESIGN Basic science study using an in vivo canine model and human subjects. METHODS In four canines and five healthy humans vocal fold abduction time was measured using high-speed video recording. In the canines, PCA muscle activation was achieved using graded stimulation of the PCA nerve branch. The human subjects performed coughing and sniffing tasks. High-speed video and audio signals were concurrently recorded. RESULTS In the canines, the vocal fold moved posteriorly, laterally, and superiorly during abduction. Average time to reach 10%, 50%, and 90% abduction was 23, 50, and 100 ms with low stimulation; 24, 58, and 129 ms with medium stimulation; and 21, 49, and 117 ms with high-level stimulation, respectively. In the humans, 100% abduction times for coughing and sniffing tasks were 79 and 193 ms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The PCA abduction times in canines are within the range in humans. The results also further support the notion that PCA muscles are fully active during cough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh K Chhetri
- Laryngeal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
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Ferdenzi C, Poncelet J, Rouby C, Bensafi M. Repeated exposure to odors induces affective habituation of perception and sniffing. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:119. [PMID: 24782728 PMCID: PMC3989720 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory perception, and especially hedonic evaluation of odors, is highly flexible, but some mechanisms involved in this flexibility remain to be elucidated. In the present study we aimed at better understanding how repeated exposure to odors can affect their pleasantness. We tested the hypothesis of an affective habituation to the stimuli, namely a decrease of emotional intensity over repetitions. More specifically, we tested whether this effect is subject to inter-individual variability and whether it can also be observed at the olfactomotor level. Twenty-six participants took part in the experiment during which they had to smell two odorants, anise and chocolate, presented 20 times each. On each trial, sniff duration and volume were recorded and paired with ratings of odor pleasantness and intensity. For each smell, we distinguished between “likers” and “dislikers,” namely individuals giving positive and negative initial hedonic evaluations. Results showed a significant decrease in pleasantness with time when the odor was initially pleasant (“likers”), while unpleasantness remained stable or slightly decreased when the odor was initially unpleasant (“dislikers”). This deviation toward neutrality was interpreted as affective habituation. This effect was all the more robust as it was observed for both odors and corroborated by sniffing, an objective measurement of odor pleasantness. Affective habituation to odors can be interpreted as an adaptive response to stimuli that prove over time to be devoid of positive or negative outcome on the organism. This study contributes to a better understanding of how olfactory preferences are shaped through exposure, depending on the individual's own initial perception of the odor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Ferdenzi
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Lyon, France
| | - Johan Poncelet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Rouby
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Lyon, France
| | - Moustafa Bensafi
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Lyon, France
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