Olfactory Bulb Receptive Field Plasticity

描述（由申请人提供）：知觉学习已经在几个感官系统中得到证明，其中经验增强了对训练刺激的感觉敏锐度。它被认为依赖于感觉接受野（RFs）的变化。虽然感官经验和学习已被证明可以改变哺乳动物嗅觉系统的行为敏锐度和神经反应模式，但尚未对RFs的影响进行定量分析。特别感兴趣的是确定经验是否会产生射频形状的变化，这可能意味着横向或反馈抑制的变化。射频变化的定量检查将进一步加深我们对嗅觉系统中经验如何塑造嗅觉信息编码的理解。所获得的知识可能有助于帮助某些感觉和记忆障碍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Perceptual learning has been demonstrated in several sensory systems wherein experience enhances sensory acuity for trained stimuli. It is believed to be dependent on changes in sensory receptive fields (RFs). While sensory experience and learning have been shown to modify both behavioral acuity and neural response patterns in the mammalian olfactory system, quantitative analyses of effects on RFs have not been performed. Of specific interest is to determine if experience produces a change in shape of the RF, perhaps implicating changes in lateral or feedback inhibition. Quantitative examination of RF changes will further our understanding of how experience shapes coding of olfactory information in the olfactory system. The knowledge gained could useful in helping with certain sensory and memory disorders.