Mankin R W, Mayer M S
J Theor Biol. 1983 Jan 7;100(1):123-38. doi: 10.1016/0022-5193(83)90097-8.
The response of a model olfactory system to a single odorant is quantified by interconnecting three separate stimulus-response relationships. Together, these relationships encompass the deposition of odorant molecules onto an olfactory organ, their movement to the dendrite of the olfactory receptor neuron, their subsequent induction of action potentials, and the processing of induced and spontaneous action potentials by the central nervous system, resulting in perception and a behavioral response. Phenomena discussed within the context of the model include the behavioral threshold, central summation of responses from a number of olfactory neurons, and the effect of organ shape on olfactory detection. The intent of the model is to provide a quantitative conceptual framework for designing and interpreting experiments relating sensory input to perception and behavior. Its utility is particularly evident for insect olfaction since it enables insect sex pheromone behavioral thresholds to be estimated from the literature when bioassays or electrophysiological studies are not possible. It also derives a physiologically meaningful method for comparing behavioral thresholds among different animals, and permits comparisons of different kinds of behavioral responses in the same species. Vertebrate olfaction is treated briefly in a discussion of the effect of sniffing on the threshold of detection.
通过将三种不同的刺激 - 反应关系相互联系起来，对模型嗅觉系统对单一气味剂的反应进行量化。这些关系共同涵盖了气味剂分子在嗅觉器官上的沉积、它们向嗅觉受体神经元树突的移动、随后引发的动作电位，以及中枢神经系统对诱发动作电位和自发动作电位的处理，从而产生感知和行为反应。在该模型背景下讨论的现象包括行为阈值、来自多个嗅觉神经元的反应的中枢总和，以及器官形状对嗅觉检测的影响。该模型的目的是提供一个定量概念框架，用于设计和解释将感官输入与感知及行为相关联的实验。其效用在昆虫嗅觉方面尤为明显，因为当无法进行生物测定或电生理研究时，它能够根据文献估计昆虫性信息素的行为阈值。它还推导了一种在生理上有意义的方法来比较不同动物之间的行为阈值，并允许对同一物种的不同类型行为反应进行比较。在讨论嗅觉对检测阈值的影响时，对脊椎动物嗅觉进行了简要论述。
