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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Neural Circuits
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1437575
This article is part of the Research Topic Neural Circuit Formation and Sensory Inputs View all 18 articles

Circuit dynamics of the olfactory pathway during olfactory learning

Provisionally accepted
Yutian J. Zhang Yutian J. Zhang Jason Y. Lee Jason Y. Lee Kei M. Igarashi Kei M. Igarashi *
  • University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The olfactory system plays crucial roles in perceiving and interacting with their surroundings. Previous studies have deciphered basic odor perceptions, but how information processing in the olfactory system is associated with learning and memory is poorly understood. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the anatomy and functional dynamics of the mouse olfactory learning pathway, focusing on how neuronal circuits in the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory cortical areas integrate odor information in learning. We also highlight in vivo evidence for the role of the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) in olfactory learning. Altogether, these studies demonstrate that brain regions throughout the olfactory system are critically involved in forming and representing learned knowledge. The role of olfactory areas in learning and memory, and their susceptibility to dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases, necessitate further research.

    Keywords: olfactory, Lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC), Olfactory learning, olfactory cortex, Hippocampus

    Received: 24 May 2024; Accepted: 20 Jun 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Lee and Igarashi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Kei M. Igarashi, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.