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Stereo olfaction underlies stable coding of head direction in blind mice

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  • Kadjita Asumbisa

    (McGill University)

  • Adrien Peyrache

    (McGill University)

  • Stuart Trenholm

    (McGill University)

Abstract

Stereo olfaction, the difference in odor concentration between the two nostrils, has been shown to affect a variety of animal behaviors, including olfactory search. However, it is unknown whether stereo olfaction can enable the formation of allocentric spatial representations. Here, recording from head direction (HD) cells in the anterior dorsal nucleus of the thalamus in blind mice—a model system for studying olfaction-dependent allocentric spatial representations—we find that inhibiting stereo olfaction, by blocking olfactory processing in one nostril or merging the airflow going to both nostrils, drastically impairs head direction coding. To assess the behavioral impact of impaired HD cell tuning caused by loss of stereo olfaction, we developed a closed-loop head direction preference assay, in which a mouse received medial forebrain bundle reward stimulation upon orientating its head in a specific direction. We find that inhibiting stereo olfaction significantly impairs performance in the HD preference assay. These results reveal that stereo olfaction is required for mice to use smell to form a stable allocentric spatial representation of head direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Kadjita Asumbisa & Adrien Peyrache & Stuart Trenholm, 2025. "Stereo olfaction underlies stable coding of head direction in blind mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58847-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58847-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kadjita Asumbisa & Adrien Peyrache & Stuart Trenholm, 2022. "Flexible cue anchoring strategies enable stable head direction coding in both sighted and blind animals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Guillaume Viejo & Adrien Peyrache, 2020. "Precise coupling of the thalamic head-direction system to hippocampal ripples," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Kenneth C. Catania, 2013. "Stereo and serial sniffing guide navigation to an odour source in a mammal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-8, June.
    4. Adil Ghani Khan & Manaswini Sarangi & Upinder Singh Bhalla, 2012. "Rats track odour trails accurately using a multi-layered strategy with near-optimal sampling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-10, January.
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