A specialized odor memory buffer in primary olfactory cortex.
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.
Zelano
Christina
C
Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. czelano@gmail.com
Montag
Jessica
J
Khan
Rehan
R
Sobel
Noam
N
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