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Research article2003Peer reviewedOpen access

Extreme sensitivity in an olfactory system

Angioy AM, Desogus A, Barbarossa IT, Anderson P, Hansson BS

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

Published in

Chemical Senses
2003, Volume: 28, number: 4, pages: 279-284
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

      SLU Authors

    • Anderson, Peter

      • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Hansson, Bill

        • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
      Horticulture

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/28.4.279

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1267