title: Silence sets on a sensory map.
abstract: Recent efforts to understand the contribution of neuronal activity in the creation of the olfactory sensory map have focused on odor-evoked events. In this issue of Neuron, Yu et al. discover a new role for neuronal activity in the organization and maintenance of the olfactory system. Their results highlight the role of spontaneous activity and synaptic transmission in axon outgrowth and olfactory neuron survival.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA.
authors.forename: Mosi K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Randall R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018035:Receptors, Odorant