Neuroanatomy of the chemical senses

在本申请中，我们的目标是描述化学感觉的功能和结构神经解剖学，即允许感知我们的化学环境的感觉（嗅觉，味觉和三叉神经系统，即感知燃烧，刺痛和清新）。该研究计划旨在三个特定的轴，即（1）化学感觉知觉的神经解剖决定因素的表征;（2）化学感觉之间的相互作用的研究;（3）嗅觉系统中神经元可塑性的评估。* 具体来说，在第一个轴内，我们将在从外周（鼻上皮）到中枢（中枢神经系统）的几个信息处理水平上检查化学感觉感知的神经解剖决定因素。我们将使用大量的技术（组织学，电生理学，神经成像），以便能够理解解剖特征，敏感性和化学感觉之间的关联。在第二个轴中，我们将评估化学感觉之间的相互作用程度;这些非常重要，因为化学感觉通常一起刺激（例如，我们将使用行为方法以及电生理学技术和神经成像技术来研究这些相互放大和抑制的复杂相互作用。在第三个轴，我们将研究嗅觉系统中的神经元可塑性，这在成人神经系统中是无与伦比的（在功能和结构方面）。我们将研究短期暴露和长期训练诱导的神经元可塑性，特别关注外周和中枢嗅觉处理结构，以及神经元可塑性对非感觉任务的影响，如在相同的大脑区域处理记忆和情绪。换句话说，我们的目标是调查是否嗅觉训练可能会导致改善非嗅觉任务。我们将再次使用行为方法，电生理技术以及神经成像。

In this application we aim to characterise the functional and structural neuro-anatomy of the chemical senses, i.e. the senses which allow for the perception of our chemical environment (smell, taste, and the trigeminal system, i.e. the perception of burning, stinging and refreshing). The research program aims at three specific axes, namely (1) the characterisation of the neuro-anatomical determinants of chemosensory perception; (2) the study of interactions between the chemical senses; and (3) the evaluation of neuronal plasticity in the olfactory system. ***Specifically, within the first axis we will examine the neuro-anatomical determinants of chemosensory perception on several levels of information processing, from the periphery (the nasal epithelium) to the center (central nervous system). We will use a large spectrum of techniques (histology, electrophysiology, neuro-imaging) in order to be able to understand the association between anatomical features, sensitivity and perception in the chemical senses. Within the second axis we will assess the degree of interactions between the chemical senses; these are very important since the chemical senses are usually stimulated together (e.g., while eating food).We will use behavioral methods as well as electrophysiological techniques and neuroimaging in order to characterise these complex interactions of mutual amplification and inhibition. Within the third axis we will investigate neuronal plasticity in the olfactory systems which is unmatched (in functional and structural terms) in the adult nervous system. We will investigate neuronal plasticity in induced by short term exposition and by long term training with a particular focus on peripheral and central olfactory processing structures as well as the effects of neuronal plasticity on non-sensory tasks such as memory and emotions processed in the same brain regions. In other words we aim to investigate whether olfactory training may lead to an improvement in non-olfactory tasks. We will again use behavioral methods, electrophysiological techniques as well as neuroimaging.