Respiratory phase-dependent information processing in the olfactory cortex

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K16564
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Basic / Social brain science
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Narikiyo Kimiya 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, 研究員 (70599836)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 呼吸 / 嗅覚 / 嗅皮質 / 徐波 / オフライン / 電気生理

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Olfactory perception depends on discrete respiration phases of inhalation and exhalation. In this study, I examined by electrophysiological techniques how the central olfactory system coordinates signal processing between inhalation and exhalation phases. Local field potentials in the olfactory cortex showed respiration-synchronized slow oscillations. Current source density analysis of the slow oscillations revealed a slow current sink in the superficial layer during the inhalation phase and a slow current sink in the deep layers during the exhalation phase. Both the superficial and deep layer current sinks accompanied spike discharges of olfactory cortex neurons. Olfactory sensory deprivation did not eliminate the exhalation-coupled current sink in deep layers and neuronal firings, suggesting that these signals were intrinsically generated. These results indicate that the olfactory cortex areas are intrinsically active during exhalation phase via deep layer association fiber inputs.

Free Research Field

神経科学