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

描述（由申请人提供）：我们对周期性输入对中央嗅觉表征的功能意义的理解存在根本性的差距。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。本申请的目的是表征周期性输入的动态如何影响嗅觉感知，并确定负责优化嗅觉反应的生理机制。我们的中心假设是，嗅觉系统已经进化到最佳响应周期性的，而不是连续的刺激，这种能力是介导的本地触角叶处理和离心输入，是有关的一代翅膀运动。这项研究的基本原理是，一旦我们了解了周期性输入如何增强初级嗅觉功能，我们将能够更好地描述中央表征及其与感知的关系。此外，这些数据将为基础嗅觉学提供新的见解，通过这些见解，可以实现更好的人工嗅觉传感器，用于人类健康和安全的诊断用途。因此，拟议的研究与NIH的使命的一部分有关，即获得“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”，特别是关于人类疾病的诊断和预防。在强有力的初步数据的指导下，这一假设将在两个具体目标中进行测试：1）确定优化气味处理和敏锐度的神经行为基础的周期性刺激的特征; 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的工作假设是由翼拍周期引起的触角周围的气流的动力学影响神经表征的方式，增强嗅觉敏锐度，如精神病学测量的。目标2的工作假设是，触角叶中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，以主动门控输入。拟议的研究结果是创新的，因为它们阐明了嗅觉刺激的输入和初级处理如何受到周期性输入的影响，以及由此产生的神经表征变化如何影响感官知觉。此外，我们建立了介导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，反过来又影响嗅觉敏锐度。这项研究意义重大，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）输入对气味处理的时间约束; 3）是否需要多个嗅觉样本并将其整合; 4）偏离正常嗅觉采样的后果; 5）门控输入信号的机制;以及6）正在努力设计更好的基于嗅觉的传感器。公共卫生相关性：所提出的研究是一个重要的，但研究不足的嗅觉领域，有可能阐明最佳刺激参数的气味检测和歧视和生理机制，这种优化的基础。拟议的研究与公共卫生直接相关，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检测器设计的设计。这种检测器用于诊断人类疾病和检测环境中的有害化学痕迹，作为疾病预防措施。

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.