Olfaction is essential for the survival of many animal species, playing important roles in navigating activities, such as foraging, locating conspecific mates, as well as avoiding predators and spoiled food. How the olfactory information turns into behavior in the brain is a hot topic in the field of olfactory neuroscience. As the most diverse class of animals, insects constitute suitable objects for studying the neural basis of olfaction. In addition to their specialized adaptations to distinct ecological niches, these organisms have a relatively accessible nervous system that shares common circuit logic with vertebrates. Significant advances have recently been made in exploring the neural basis of insect olfaction, especially in the primary olfactory center of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, due to the availability of new genetic tools.
Generally, however, the neural basis for odor-driven behavior in insects is still an open question. Several neuropil areas involved in the olfactory pathway from sensory input to motor output, including the primary olfactory center as well, remain to be further explored. In addition, the complex interactions of diverse neuronal cells within and between different neuropils need further investigation. Finally, the mechanisms of olfactory circuit adaptations for specific ecological environments across different insect species are largely unknown.
This Research Topic aims to publish original studies and reviews that report new advances in exploring the neural basis of olfaction in a wide range of insect species. The main goals include but are not limited to:
-Morphological and physiological characterization of neuronal circuit components constituting the olfactory pathway at different neuropil levels - from sensory input to motor output.
-Clarifying mechanisms underlying synaptic information processing within and between distinct neuropil areas of the olfactory circuit.
-Identifying the receptors and chemical substances incorporated in the neuronal circuit components of the olfactory pathway.
-Exploring the principles typifying plasticity within the olfactory system.
-Uncovering how olfactory input is integrated with other sensory modalities in higher brain circuits.
Olfaction is essential for the survival of many animal species, playing important roles in navigating activities, such as foraging, locating conspecific mates, as well as avoiding predators and spoiled food. How the olfactory information turns into behavior in the brain is a hot topic in the field of olfactory neuroscience. As the most diverse class of animals, insects constitute suitable objects for studying the neural basis of olfaction. In addition to their specialized adaptations to distinct ecological niches, these organisms have a relatively accessible nervous system that shares common circuit logic with vertebrates. Significant advances have recently been made in exploring the neural basis of insect olfaction, especially in the primary olfactory center of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, due to the availability of new genetic tools.
Generally, however, the neural basis for odor-driven behavior in insects is still an open question. Several neuropil areas involved in the olfactory pathway from sensory input to motor output, including the primary olfactory center as well, remain to be further explored. In addition, the complex interactions of diverse neuronal cells within and between different neuropils need further investigation. Finally, the mechanisms of olfactory circuit adaptations for specific ecological environments across different insect species are largely unknown.
This Research Topic aims to publish original studies and reviews that report new advances in exploring the neural basis of olfaction in a wide range of insect species. The main goals include but are not limited to:
-Morphological and physiological characterization of neuronal circuit components constituting the olfactory pathway at different neuropil levels - from sensory input to motor output.
-Clarifying mechanisms underlying synaptic information processing within and between distinct neuropil areas of the olfactory circuit.
-Identifying the receptors and chemical substances incorporated in the neuronal circuit components of the olfactory pathway.
-Exploring the principles typifying plasticity within the olfactory system.
-Uncovering how olfactory input is integrated with other sensory modalities in higher brain circuits.