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PubMed · 2147078

Olfactory recognition: a simple memory system.

P Brennan·H Kaba·E B Keverne
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Abstract

Mice have an olfactory (pheromone) recognition memory located at the first relay in the sensory system. It is acquired with one-trial learning, contingent upon norepinephrine activation at mating, and lasts for several weeks. The mechanism involves Hebbian (association-dependent) changes in synaptic efficacy at dendrodendritic synapses in the accessory olfactory bulb. As a result of this memory, males made familiar by mating are recognized by the females, thereby mitigating pregnancy block. Such a memory function is biologically important to the female, as it is required to sustain pregnancy in the presence of her stud male's odors.

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AmygdalaAnimalsFemaleHypothalamusLidocaineMaleMemoryMiceMice, Inbred BALB CMice, Inbred CBAN-MethylaspartateNorepinephrineOlfactory BulbOlfactory PathwaysPheromonesPregnancyPregnancy, AnimalReceptors, N-Methyl-D-AspartateReproductionSmellSynapsesJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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P Brennan, H Kaba, E B Keverne. 1990-11-30. Olfactory recognition: a simple memory system.. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2147078

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