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Organization of the parallel antennal-lobe tracts in the moth

Summary

This review explains how moths’ brains process smells through specialized neural pathways. The antennal lobe, the smell-processing center, contains six different pathways that carry different types of olfactory information to higher brain regions. Some pathways are specialized for detecting pheromones (mating signals) while others process plant odors or other environmental cues. The organization of these pathways determines how quickly and accurately the moth can detect and respond to important smells.

Background

The olfactory pathways of insects have been studied for over 40 years, with recent advances in intracellular recording and staining techniques elucidating the anatomy and physiology of neurons in the primary olfactory center, the antennal lobe. In moths, projection neurons follow six separate antennal-lobe tracts that convey distinct features of social signals and other olfactory information.

Objective

This review concentrates on the connection patterns characterizing projection neurons from the antennal lobe, which follow six separate antennal-lobe tracts. The objective is to highlight connections between functionally distinct glomerular clusters and higher-order olfactory neuropils, and to discuss how parallel tracts convey distinct features of social signals.

Results

Six distinct antennal-lobe tracts were characterized: three main tracts (medial, lateral, and mediolateral ALT) and three minor tracts (transverse, dorsomedial, and dorsal ALT). Tracts other than the medial ALT are formed mainly by multiglomerular projection neurons, with distinct functional properties and target regions in the protocerebrum.

Conclusion

The comprehensive anatomical and physiological data reveals that each antennal-lobe tract represents specific glomerular clusters with distinct functional roles, from fine-tuned odor coding to rapid behavioral responses. This organization provides a framework for understanding how parallel olfactory pathways process different types of sensory information.
  • Published in:Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 36112200, DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01566-x
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