Signal processing in the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb.

This review summarizes recent progress on the knowledge of signal processing that occurs in the neuronal systems of olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb. Emphasis is placed on the discussion related to the following working hypotheses: (1) Odor information received by odor receptor proteins expressed in a specific zone of the olfactory epithelium may be transmitted selectively to the target neurons in a corresponding zone of the olfactory bulb, and (2) Within each zone, olfactory sensory neurons expressing the same odor receptor protein may converge their axons onto one or a few common target glomeruli in the bulb.