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- Title
Extreme Sensitivity in an Olfactory System.
- Authors
Angioy, Anna Maria; Desogus, Alessandro; Barbarossa, Iole Tomassini; Anderson, Peter; Hansson, Bill S.
- Abstract
We recorded olfactory-induced cardiac responses to evaluate olfactory response thresholds to behaviourally relevant odours in a moth. Specific antennal receptor neurons enable insects to detect biologically meaningful odours such as sex pheromones and host-plant volatiles. The response threshold values demonstrated here are well below anything earlier reported in any organism. A heart response was triggered by less than six molecules of the most efficient odours hitting the antennae of the insect. The behavioural significance of this extreme sensitivity most likely lies in the creation of awareness and readiness to respond behaviourally at higher concentration levels.
- Subjects
OLFACTORY receptors; SENSITIVITY analysis; OLFACTORY nerve; HOST plants; MOLECULES
- Publication
Chemical Senses, 2003, Vol 28, Issue 4, p279
- ISSN
0379-864X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/chemse/28.4.279