The early stages of sensory processing pose similar problems for various sensory modalities-for example, controlling gain and minimizing noise. It is not clear how the computations that solve these problems are implemented at the level of cells and synapses. The early olfactory system is a useful preparation for investigating these issues because of its compartmental architecture. All the olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) that express the same odorant receptor converge on the same compartment (glomerulus), and glomeruli are linked by both inhibitory and excitatory lateral connections. This architecture raises specific questions about the in vivo function of synaptic interactions in this circuit. Specifically, why do so many ORNs converge on each glomerulus? How do postsynaptic neurons integrate converging ORN spikes in the time domain? What happens when the connections between glomeruli are abolished? Do different glomerular processing channels perform different computations on their feedforward inputs? Why is there such diversity among local neurons (LNs)? Why would it be useful to have both excitatory and inhibitory LNs? These questions will be addressed using targeted genetic manipulations, in vivo whole-cell recordings, and calcium imaging in the Drosophila antennal lobe. The Drosophila antennal lobe is a good model for addressing these questions because it bears a strong similarity to its vertebrate homolog, the olfactory bulb. Moreover, it enables experiments that are currently not possible in other preparations. Specifically, it is possible to genetically manipulate specific synapses, validate the cellular correlates of these perturbations using in vivo intracellular electrophysiological measurements, and examine the functional consequences of these perturbations for the intact circuit. In these studies, genetic tools will be used (1) to manipulate ORN convergence and coherence, (2) to selectively abolish lateral excitation, lateral presynaptic inhibition, and lateral postsynaptic inhibition, (3) to stimulate specific LN populations, and (4) to monitor and manipulate the spatial spread of lateral inhibition. Most of these manipulations were made possible by recent discoveries about the biology of this system. All the techniques in these studies are routinely used in the laboratory, and thus their feasibility is proven. The results of these studies should illuminate general principles underlying synaptic integration in sensory circuits in vivo. Namely, these studies should help clarify how neural circuits can maximize their signal-to-noise ratio, how different circuit modules might perform specialized computations, why local interneurons are so diverse, and why lateral excitation and lateral inhibition often co-exist. More specifically, these studies should clarify the synaptic basis of olfactory processing, in vertebrates as well as in simpler model organisms. Understanding how the brain processes odors should aid the design of so-called """"""""artificial noses"""""""", sensors designed to analyze organic volatiles which have important applications in medical diagnosis.

Public Health Relevance

Understanding olfactory processing should help treat olfactory disorders in human patients, and could aid in understanding why these disorders are often early warning signs of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, understanding how the brain processes odors has contributed valuable insights to the design of so-called """"""""artificial noses"""""""", sensors designed to detect and discriminate between specific volatile chemicals. These sensors have important applications in medical diagnosis and biodefense.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC008174-07
Application #
8220715
Study Section
Neurotransporters, Receptors, and Calcium Signaling Study Section (NTRC)
Program Officer
Sullivan, Susan L
Project Start
2006-03-01
Project End
2016-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$355,606
Indirect Cost
$143,106
Name
Harvard University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047006379
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Jeanne, James M; Fi?ek, Mehmet; Wilson, Rachel I (2018) The Organization of Projections from Olfactory Glomeruli onto Higher-Order Neurons. Neuron 98:1198-1213.e6
Tobin, William F; Wilson, Rachel I; Lee, Wei-Chung Allen (2017) Wiring variations that enable and constrain neural computation in a sensory microcircuit. Elife 6:
Nagel, Katherine I; Wilson, Rachel I (2016) Mechanisms Underlying Population Response Dynamics in Inhibitory Interneurons of the Drosophila Antennal Lobe. J Neurosci 36:4325-38
Bell, Joseph S; Wilson, Rachel I (2016) Behavior Reveals Selective Summation and Max Pooling among Olfactory Processing Channels. Neuron 91:425-38
Liu, Wendy W; Mazor, Ofer; Wilson, Rachel I (2015) Thermosensory processing in the Drosophila brain. Nature 519:353-7
Nagel, Katherine I; Hong, Elizabeth J; Wilson, Rachel I (2015) Synaptic and circuit mechanisms promoting broadband transmission of olfactory stimulus dynamics. Nat Neurosci 18:56-65
Jeanne, James M; Wilson, Rachel I (2015) Convergence, Divergence, and Reconvergence in a Feedforward Network Improves Neural Speed and Accuracy. Neuron 88:1014-1026
Hong, Elizabeth J; Wilson, Rachel I (2015) Simultaneous encoding of odors by channels with diverse sensitivity to inhibition. Neuron 85:573-89
Fi?ek, Mehmet; Wilson, Rachel I (2014) Stereotyped connectivity and computations in higher-order olfactory neurons. Nat Neurosci 17:280-8
Liu, Wendy W; Wilson, Rachel I (2013) Glutamate is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the Drosophila olfactory system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:10294-9

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