Antennal receptive fields for odor localization in a nocturnal cockroach

Abstract

Odor plume is composed of spatially discrete patches of odor molecules, called filaments. Little is, however, known about how animals utilize spatial odor distribution for navigation. The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, adapted to closed, obstacle-rich environments, is capable of locating a distant odor source with the use of a single antenna. The cockroach has partially overlapping but distinct receptive fields along the antennal flagellum. One receptive field is added for each nymphal molting in which newborn sensilla are emerged in the proximal base of the flagellum. The cockroach is, therefore, capable of detecting plume boundary and filament size by reading combinatory activity of glomerular output neurons corresponding to individual receptive fields.