Sensory systems are the means by which people receive the information they need to navigate about the world. Of all of the major modalities olfaction is perhaps the least understood, despite the fact that it plays many important roles in our lives. The work described in the present proposal is designed to examine carefully a very important region in the central olfactory pathways. The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) has synaptic connections at nearly every point of information processing on both the ipsilateral and contralateral side of the olfactory regions of the forebrain. As such, it is capable of driving or modulating the synaptic activity of the entire central olfactory system. Nevertheless, it has been virtually ignored compared with studies of the olfactory mucosa, bulb and piriform cortex. The proposed research will continue our examination of the AON's structure and function. The work has two major foci. First, while the region may have one name, it is becoming obvious that it contains several different processing areas and is therefore more complicated than initially believed. The primary goal of this research is to define functional subregions in the AON to build fundamental information about its organization. Second, the existence of crossed connections in the olfactory system has received very little attention. In nearly every sensory, motor and neocortical system crossed connections are important in facilitating complex information processing and the work examining them has led to enormous advances in understanding system function. Understanding the contributions of interhemispheric connections in the olfactory system will doubtlessly also lead to more a sophisticated view of the mechanisms of odor perception.

Public Health Relevance

Sensory systems are the means by which people receive information about the world, engage it and make decisions. Of all of the major modalities olfaction is one of the least understood, despite the fact that it plays an important role in our lives. Completion of this research project will lead to a better understanding of the organization and function of an important region in the processing of olfactory information. As such, it will contribute essential information on how this important sensory modality operates. Furthermore, it will contribute to our understanding of the general organization of the basal forebrain of all mammals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC000338-24
Application #
8655839
Study Section
Somatosensory and Chemosensory Systems Study Section (SCS)
Program Officer
Sullivan, Susan L
Project Start
1987-04-01
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2014-05-01
Budget End
2015-04-30
Support Year
24
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$254,142
Indirect Cost
$84,142
Name
University of Virginia
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
065391526
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904
Collins, L N; Hill, D L; Brunjes, P C (2018) Myelination of the developing lateral olfactory tract and anterior commissure. J Comp Neurol 526:1843-1858
Kay, Rachel B; Brunjes, Peter C (2014) Diversity among principal and GABAergic neurons of the anterior olfactory nucleus. Front Cell Neurosci 8:111
Brunjes, Peter C; Collins, Lindsay N; Osterberg, Stephen K et al. (2014) The mouse olfactory peduncle. 3. Development of neurons, glia, and centrifugal afferents. Front Neuroanat 8:44
Brunjes, Peter C (2012) The mouse olfactory peduncle. 2.The anterior limb of the anterior commissure. Front Neuroanat 6:51
Brunjes, Peter C; Kay, Rachel B; Arrivillaga, J P (2011) The mouse olfactory peduncle. J Comp Neurol 519:2870-86
Kay, Rachel B; Meyer, Elizabeth Amory; Illig, Kurt R et al. (2011) Spatial distribution of neural activity in the anterior olfactory nucleus evoked by odor and electrical stimulation. J Comp Neurol 519:277-89
Brunjes, Peter C; Kenerson, Michael C (2010) The anterior olfactory nucleus: quantitative study of dendritic morphology. J Comp Neurol 518:1603-16
Illig, Kurt R; Eudy, Jennifer D (2009) Contralateral projections of the rat anterior olfactory nucleus. J Comp Neurol 512:115-23
Meyer, Elizabeth Amory; Illig, Kurt R; Brunjes, Peter C (2006) Differences in chemo- and cytoarchitectural features within pars principalis of the rat anterior olfactory nucleus suggest functional specialization. J Comp Neurol 498:786-95
Byrd, C A; Brunjes, P C (2001) Neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb of adult zebrafish. Neuroscience 105:793-801

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