The distributed circuit within the piriform cortex makes odor discrimination robust.

TitleThe distributed circuit within the piriform cortex makes odor discrimination robust.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsSrinivasan S, Stevens CF
JournalJ Comp Neurol
Volume526
Issue17
Pagination2725-2743
Date Published2018 Dec 01
ISSN1096-9861
Abstract

Distributed circuits wherein connections between subcircuit components seem randomly distributed are common to the olfactory circuit, hippocampus, and cerebellum. In such circuits, activation patterns seem random too, showing no detectable spatial preference, and contrast with regions that have topographic connections between subcircuits and topographic activation patterns. Quantitative studies of topographic circuits in the neocortex have yielded common principles of organization. Whether distributed circuits share similar principles of organization is unknown because similar quantitative information is missing and understanding the way they encode information remains a challenge. We addressed these needs by providing a quantitative description of the mouse piriform cortex, a paleocortical distributed circuit that subserves olfaction. The quantitative information provided two insights. First, with a nearly parameter-free model of the olfactory circuit, we show that the piriform cortex robustly maintains odor information and discrimination ability present in the olfactory bulb. Second, the paleocortex is quantitatively different from the neocortex: it has a lower surface area density, which decreases from the anterior to posterior paleocortex contrasting with the uniform neuronal density of the neocortex. These insights might also apply to other distributed circuits.

DOI10.1002/cne.24492
Alternate JournalJ. Comp. Neurol.
PubMed ID30014545
Grant ListKIBM IRG 0024 / / Kavli Institute /
NSF PHY-1444273 / / National Science Foundation (NSF) /
Category: 
IRG Funded