Neural processing of the reward value of pleasant odorants

Pleasant odorants are represented in the posterior olfactory bulb (pOB) in mice. How does this hedonic information generate odor-motivated behaviors? Using optogenetics, we report here that stimulating the representation of pleasant odorants in a sensory structure, the pOB, can be rewarding, self-motivating, and is accompanied by ventral tegmental area activation. To explore the underlying neural circuitry downstream of the olfactory bulb (OB), we use 3D high-resolution imaging and optogenetics and determine that the pOB preferentially projects to the olfactory tubercle, whose increased activity is related to odorant attraction. We further show that attractive odorants act as reinforcers in dopamine-dependent place preference learning. Finally, we extend those findings to humans, who exhibit place preference learning and an increase BOLD signal in the olfactory tubercle in response to attractive odorants. Thus, strong and persistent attraction induced by some odorants is due to a direct gateway from the pOB to the reward system.

Automated summary

Pleasant odorants in mice's posterior olfactory bulb (pOB) can generate reward and self-motivated behaviors when stimulated, accompanied by ventral tegmental area activation. The pOB preferentially projects to the olfactory tubercle, enhancing odorant attraction, and attractive odorants act as reinforcers in dopamine-dependent place preference learning. In humans, place preference learning and increased BOLD signal in the olfactory tubercle in response to attractive odorants suggests a direct link from pOB to the reward system driving strong and persistent attraction.