title: A specialized odor memory buffer in primary olfactory cortex.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neural substrates of olfactory working memory are unknown. We addressed the questions of whether olfactory working memory involves a verbal representation of the odor, or a sensory image of the odor, or both, and the location of the neural substrates of these processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure activity in the brains of subjects who were remembering either nameable or unnameable odorants. We found a double dissociation whereby remembering nameable odorants was reflected in sustained activity in prefrontal language areas, and remembering unnameable odorants was reflected in sustained activity in primary olfactory cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a novel dedicated mechanism in primary olfactory cortex, where odor information is maintained in temporary storage to subserve ongoing tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. czelano@gmail.com
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zelano
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montag
authors.forename: Rehan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sobel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult