The effect of periodic input on measures of olfactory processing and perception

描述(由申请人提供)：在我们对周期性输入对中枢嗅觉表征的功能意义的理解上存在着根本的差距。我们的长期目标是了解气味编码的神经基础，以及这个过程如何反过来影响感知和行为。这项应用的目的是描述周期性输入如何影响嗅觉，并确定负责优化嗅觉反应的生理机制。我们的中心假设是，嗅觉系统已经进化成对周期性刺激而不是连续刺激做出最佳反应，这种能力是通过局部触角叶处理和与翅膀运动产生相关的离心力输入来调节的。这项研究的基本原理是，一旦我们了解了周期性输入是如何增强初级嗅觉功能的，我们就能够更好地表征中枢表征及其与知觉的关系。此外，这些数据将为基本启发式方法提供新的见解，通过这些启发式方法，可以实现更好的人工嗅觉传感器，用于诊断人类健康和安全。因此，拟议的研究与美国国立卫生研究院的任务有关，该部分与获取“关于生命系统的性质和行为的基本知识以及这些知识的应用”有关，特别是在人类疾病的诊断和预防方面。在强大的初步数据的指导下，这一假说将在两个具体目标上进行检验：1)确定周期性刺激的特征，以优化气味处理和敏锐度的神经行为基础；2)研究增强对脉冲感觉输入的神经和行为反应的细胞机制。目标1的工作假设是，由翅膀拍动周期引起的天线周围气流的动力学影响神经表征的方式，以提高从心理生理测量的嗅觉敏锐度。目标2的工作假设是，触角叶局部突触活动的相互作用与来自其他大脑区域的输入一起工作，以主动地控制输入。拟议的研究结果具有创新性，因为他们阐明了周期性输入如何影响嗅觉刺激的输入和初级处理，以及由此导致的神经表征的变化如何影响感觉知觉。此外，我们建立了调节离散脉冲跟踪行为的神经生理学基础的机制，并建立了这些机制的中断如何反过来影响嗅敏度。这项拟议的研究意义重大，因为中央嗅觉处理以及人工复制这一过程的尝试都依赖于感觉阵列与环境的初始相互作用。这项工作的结果将为以下方面提供新的见解：1)周期性输入的普遍性；2)时间限制输入对气味处理的影响；3)多个嗅觉样本是否必要并被整合；4)偏离正常嗅觉样本的后果；5)选通输入信号的机制；以及6)正在进行的设计更好的基于嗅觉的传感器的努力。与公共健康相关：拟议的研究是嗅觉领域一个重要但研究不足的领域，有可能阐明气味检测和识别的最佳刺激参数以及支持这种优化的生理机制。这项拟议的研究与公众健康直接相关，因为它们将建立生物系统优化气味信号处理的参数；这反过来将有助于人工探测器的设计。这种探测器用于诊断人类疾病和检测环境中的危险化学痕迹，作为一项预防疾病的措施。

Description (provided by applicant): There is a fundamental gap in our understanding of the functional significance that periodic input has on cen- tral olfactory representations. Our long-term goal is to understand the neural basis of odor encoding and how this process in turn affects perception and behavior. The objective of this application is to characterize how the dynamics of periodic input affect olfactory perception and identify the physiological mechanisms responsible for optimizing olfactory responses. Our central hypothesis is that olfactory systems have evolved to respond optimally to periodic rather than continuous stimulation and that this ability is mediated by local antennal lobe processing and centrifugal input that is related to the generation of wing movement. The rationale underlying the research is that, once we understand how periodic input enhances primary olfactory function, we will be better able to characterize central representations and their relationship to perception. Furthermore, these data will provide new insights into the fundamental heuristics through which better artificial olfactory sensors can be implemented for diagnostic use in human health and safety. The proposed re- search is therefore relevant to that part of NIH's mission that pertains to the acquisition of "fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge" particularly with respect to diagnosis and prevention of human diseases. Guided by strong preliminary data, this hypothesis will be tested in two specific aims: 1) Determine the characteristics of periodic stimulation that optimize the neurobehavior basis of odor processing and acuity; and 2) Investigate cellular mechanisms that enhance neural and behavioral responses to pulsed sensory input. The Aim 1 working hypothesis is the dynamics of airflow around the antennae induced by the wing beat cycle affect the neural representations in a way that enhances olfactory acuity as measured psychophysically. The working hypothesis for Aim 2 is that the interaction of local synaptic activity in antennal lobe work in conjunction with input from other brain regions to actively gate input. The results of the proposed research are innovative because they elucidate how input and primary processing of olfactory stimuli are affected by periodic input and how resulting changes in neural representation affect sensory perception. Furthermore we establish the mechanisms that mediate the neurophysiological basis of discrete pulse tracking behavior and establish how disruption of these mechanisms, in turn affects olfactory acuity. The proposed research is significant because central olfactory processing, as well as attempts to replicate this process artificially, are both dependent on the initial interaction of the sensory array with the environment. The results of this work will provide new insights into: 1) the universality of periodic input; 2) the temporal constraints input places on odor processing; 3) whether multiple olfactory samples are necessary and are integrated; 4) the consequences of deviating from normal olfactory sampling; 5) the mechanisms for gating input signals; and 6) ongoing efforts to design better olfactory based sensors. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed studies are an important yet understudied area of olfaction that has the potential of elucidating optimal stimulus parameters for odor detection and discrimination and the physiological mechanisms that underlie this optimization. The proposed research has direct relevance to public health because they will establish parameters by which biological systems optimize odor signal processing; this in turn will aid design of artificial detector designs. Such detectors are used for diagnosis of human disease and detection of hazardous chemical traces in the environment as a disease prevention measure.