Modeling the olfactory bulb and its neural oscillatory processings

Zhaoping Li and J. J. Hopfield

Biological Cybernetics, 61, 371-391 (1989)

Abstract: The olfactory bulb of mammals aids in the discrimination of odors. A mathematical model based on the bulbar anatomy and electrophysiology is described. Simulations of the highly nonlinear model produce a 35-60 Hz modulated activity which is coherent across the bulb. The decision states for the odor information in this system can be thought of as stable cycles, rather than point stable states typical of simpler neuro-computing models. ANalysis shows that a group of couple non-linear oscillators are responsible for the oscillatory activities. The output oscillation pattern of the bulb is determined by the odor input. The model provided a framework in which to understand the transform between odor input and the bulbar output to olfactory cortex. There is significant correspondence between the model behavior and observed electrophysiology.