The role of inhibition in higher olfactory processing

7.摘要 无论是昆虫还是脊椎动物，对高级嗅觉加工的了解还不是很清楚。考虑到目前的状态 知识表明，哺乳动物和昆虫的嗅觉处理结构很相似，因此 相对简单的模型系统，如果蝇，可能会为其他动物的高级嗅觉处理提供洞察。 这个项目将研究侧角，这是一个嗅觉加工区，被认为是调节大多数先天的 对气味的行为反应，并已被比作脊椎动物杏仁核。这项研究的目标是了解 突触抑制在侧角计算中的功能作用。这里提出的实验将在体内使用 电生理记录结合药理学和遗传学工具来研究连接性和 侧角抑制性输入的生理特性及其突触整合和功能效应 在侧角输出神经元上。了解抑制如何在果蝇中促进嗅觉处理将提供 对更复杂动物的高级感觉处理的神经机制的重要见解，包括 人类。这些知识最终将有助于开发新的感官障碍治疗方法。

7. Abstract Higher olfactory processing is still not well-understood in either insects or vertebrates. Given the current state of knowledge, it appears that the structure of olfactory processing is largely similar in mammals and insects, and so a relatively simple model system such as Drosophila may provide insight into higher olfactory processing in other animals. This project will investigate the lateral horn, an olfactory processing region which is thought to mediate most innate behavioral responses to odors and has been compared to the vertebrate amygdala. The goal of this study is to understand the functional role of synaptic inhibition in lateral horn computations. The experiments proposed here will use in vivo electrophysiological recordings in combination with pharmacology and genetic tools to investigate the connectivity and physiological properties of inhibitory inputs to the lateral horn, as well as their synaptic integration and functional effects on lateral horn output neurons. Understanding how inhibition contributes to olfactory processing in the fly will provide important insights into the neural mechanisms of high-level sensory processing in more complex animals, including humans. This knowledge will ultimately aid in the development of novel treatments for sensory disorders.