Motivation 

The rodent olfactory system, in combination with the EC-HPC region, offers a unique window into the mechanisms that dynamically transform algorithms along pathways (P1-4), because piriform cortex (Pir) projects to lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) and LEC to HPC - two hubs for retrieval of odor-based memory.

Aims

We will determine how different computations are distributed along the olfactory pathway.

• 2.1 Infer olfactory population codes in Pir, LEC and HPC, and their transformation across areas (P1,P2,P4)
• 2.2 Determine mechanisms of coordination between cortices and how this is shaped upon learning of an olfactory discrimination task that is combined with olfactory working memory (P4,P3)

Implementation

We will simultaneously record from pairs of cortices while mice receive olfactory stimuli. 

We will reveal population codes for each area and compare the results to those for other cortical systems (WP2BC).

We will determine how coordination strategies across areas depend on sensory stimulation (P4) and are shaped by olfactory discrimination learning (with WP2C, P3)

We will compare representations during discrimination in the olfactory pathway with those of visual-motor systems and perirhinal cortex (WP2BC).