TitleSynergism and Combinatorial Coding for Binary Odor Mixture Perception in Drosophila.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsKundu S, Ganguly A, Chakraborty TSubhra, Kumar A, Siddiqi O
JournaleNeuro
Volume3
Issue4
Date Published2016 Jul-Aug
ISSN2373-2822
Abstract

Most odors in the natural environment are mixtures of several compounds. Olfactory receptors housed in the olfactory sensory neurons detect these odors and transmit the information to the brain, leading to decision-making. But whether the olfactory system detects the ingredients of a mixture separately or treats mixtures as different entities is not well understood. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system, we have demonstrated that fruit flies perceive binary odor mixtures in a manner that is heavily dependent on both the proportion and the degree of dilution of the components, suggesting a combinatorial coding at the peripheral level. This coding strategy appears to be receptor specific and is independent of interneuronal interactions.

DOI10.1523/ENEURO.0056-14.2016
Alternate JournaleNeuro
PubMed ID27588303
PubMed Central IDPMC4994066