Mechanisms of Naturally-occurring Odor Valence Modulation

总结 感官知觉不仅取决于刺激的物理性质，而且还受到内部因素的调节。 状态包括注意力、荷尔蒙状态和新陈代谢以及经验和环境刺激。 神经系统如何整合这些综合信息，以选择适当的行为 为特定的感官输入输出？为了解决这个问题，将特定的神经元活动与 行为或感知。嗅觉系统提供了一个独特的机会来研究基因如何定义 电路产生特定的行为。此外，气味的感知价和相应的 行为反应可以依赖于状态和上下文，使其成为研究感觉调制的理想模型。 在这里，我建议使用一个强大的新模型，涉及自然发生的气味价开关，以揭示 感觉调制的神经元编码策略。在这个模型中，雌性小鼠的效价反应 对雄性不稳定的社会线索显着依赖于发情状态。此外，观察到的行为变化 需要在主要的嗅觉上皮中表达的确定的嗅觉受体。这种天然存在的 气味效价转换提供了一个难得的机会来研究一种非条件性的、潜在的诱导性变化， perception.具体目标1将确定激素在所观察到的气味效价调节中的作用。具体 AIM2将使用一种新开发的头部固定气味效价测定，结合清醒时的生理记录， 小鼠同时进行行为分析，以剖析状态依赖的外周和中枢机制， 原子价调制这项工作将是识别神经回路调制的关键第一步。 嗅觉，并将阐明具体的感知特征是如何编码在神经系统中。

Summary Sensory perception depends not only on the physical properties of the stimulus, but is also modulated by internal states including attention, hormonal status and metabolism as well as experience and environmental stimuli. How does the nervous system integrate this comprehensive information to select an appropriate behavioral output for a particular sensory input? To address this question, it is crucial to link specific neuronal activity to behaviors or percepts. The olfactory system provides a unique opportunity to study how genetically defined circuits give rise to specific behaviors. Moreover, the perceived valence of odors and the corresponding behavioral reactions can be state- and context-dependent, making it an ideal model to study sensory modulation. Here, I propose to use a powerful new model involving a naturally occurring switch in odor valence, to reveal the neuronal coding strategies underlying sensory modulation. In this model, the valence response of female mice to a male volatile social cue significantly depends on the estrus-state. Moreover, the observed change in behavior requires a defined olfactory receptor, which is expressed in the main olfactory epithelium. This naturally occurring switch in odor valence provides a rare opportunity to study a non-conditioned, potentially inducible change in perception. Specific Aim 1 will determine the role of hormones in the observed odor valence modulation. Specific Aim 2 will use a newly developed head-fixed odor valence assay that combines physiological recordings in awake mice with simultaneous behavioral analysis to dissect the peripheral and central mechanisms of state dependent valence modulation. This work will be a key first step to identify the neural circuitry underlying modulation of olfactory perception and will shed light on how specific perceptual features are encoded in the nervous system.