The human olfactory bulb processes odor valence representation and cues motor avoidance behavior

Determining the valence of an odor to guide rapid approach–avoidance behavior is thought to be one of the core tasks of the olfactory system, and yet little is known of the initial neural mechanisms supporting this process or of its subsequent behavioral manifestation in humans. In two experiments, we measured the functional processing of odor valence perception in the human olfactory bulb (OB)—the first processing stage of the olfactory system—using a noninvasive method as well as assessed the subsequent motor avoidance response. We demonstrate that odor valence perception is associated with both gamma and beta activity in the human OB. Moreover, we show that negative, but not positive, odors initiate an early beta response in the OB, a response that is linked to a preparatory neural motor response in the motor cortex. Finally, in a separate experiment, we show that negative odors trigger a full-body motor avoidance response, manifested as a rapid leaning away from the odor, within the time period predicted by the OB results. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the human OB processes odor valence in a sequential manner in both the gamma and beta frequency bands and suggest that rapid processing of unpleasant odors in the OB might underlie rapid approach–avoidance decisions.

Schaefer, MartinKarolinska Institutet (author)
Wilson, Donald A.Karolinska Institutet (author)
Arshamian, ArtinStockholms universitet,Perception och psykofysik,Karolinska Institutet, Sweden(Swepub:su)arar8558 (author)
Lundström, Johan N.Stockholms universitet,Institutionen för lingvistik,Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Monell Chemical Senses Center, USA; University of Pennsylvania, USA(Swepub:su)nilu6044 (author)
Karolinska InstitutetPerception och psykofysik (creator_code:org_t)

In:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences118:420027-84241091-6490

By the author/editor: Iravani, Behzad; Schaefer, Martin; Wilson, Donald A ...; Arshamian, Artin; Lundström, Johan ...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Neurosciences

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