NROS 307 test 3 questions with correct answers

The glomeruli in the olfactory bulb are thought to be fundamental units of organization in the olfactory system. Why is this? What information comes into a glomerulus? - Answer •Granule cells inhibit projection neurons •They are thought to be the fundamental units because all of the receptors from the epithelium that represent one odor subtype go to the same glomerulus •Information that goes into a glomerulus: each glomerulus receives input primarily from olfactory receptor neurons that express the same olfactory receptor and send information to a mitral/tufted cell What does the receptive field of an olfactory receptor cell look like? - Answer A specific odotope or concentration of odotopes What is the function of lateral inhibition in the olfactory bulb? - Answer •Lateral inhibition allows for us to distinguish between scents better; increases acuity How is the organization of central processing of olfactory information different than other sensory systems? - Answer The olfactory system does not send input directly to the thalamus What is it about the cortical connections in the olfactory pathway that explains the fact that scent is often associated with memory formation and mood? - Answer Olfactory processing is linked to memory because the olfactory cortex projects directly to the amygdala and indirectly to the hippocampus which are responsible for strong emotions and memory, respectively