Joseph D. Zak

Perception and neural representation of intermittent odor stimuli in mice

This study investigates how mice perceive intermittent odor stimuli by analyzing behavioral responses and neural activity in the anterior piriform cortex, finding that respiratory phase modulates perception but limits information acquisition.

Microglial morphological complexity in the piriform cortex is associated with olfactory aversion following chronic stress

This study shows chronic stress increases microglial complexity in the anterior piriform cortex, correlating with odor avoidance behavior in mice.

Amplification of olfactory transduction currents implements sparse stimulus encoding

This study shows that TMEM16B reduces sensory representation density in OSNs, enhancing sparsity and improving olfactory-guided behaviors.

Reduction of Neuroinflammation and Seizures in a Mouse Model of CLN1 Batten Disease using the Small Molecule Enzyme Mimetic, N-Tert-Butyl Hydroxylamine.

This study shows that NtBuHA reduces neuroinflammation and seizures in a Cln1-/- mouse model of CLN1 Batten Disease.

Distinct information conveyed to the olfactory bulb by feedforward input from the nose and feedback from the cortex

The paper investigates how feedforward and feedback inputs to the olfactory bulb encode odor information, finding that feedback provides sparse, decorrelated representations of complex odors.

Neural circuits for fast Poisson compressed sensing in the olfactory bulb

This paper proposes a rate-based Poisson compressed sensing model for the olfactory bulb that accurately detects odors within a single sniff.

Neurotransmitter regulation rather than cell-intrinsic properties shape the high-pass filtering properties of olfactory bulb glomeruli

The paper tests a high-pass filtering model in olfactory bulb glomeruli by comparing PG cells and eTCs, finding that PG cells are not more responsive to weak stimuli than eTCs.

Optical manipulations reveal strong reciprocal inhibition but limited recurrent excitation within olfactory bulb glomeruli

The paper investigates synaptic connections within olfactory bulb glomeruli and finds strong inhibition from PG cells to eTCs but limited direct excitation between eTCs and PG cells.

Antagonistic odor interactions in olfactory sensory neurons are widespread in freely breathing mice

The paper shows that antagonistic interactions between odors are common in olfactory sensory neurons of freely breathing mice, helping to normalize activity and reduce saturation in complex odor mixtures.

Olfactory marker protein regulates refinement of the glomerular map

This study shows that OMP deletion leads to functional and anatomical heterogeneity in olfactory glomeruli due to anomalous co-innervation by OSNs with different ORs.

Calcium-activated chloride channels clamp odor-evoked spike activity in olfactory receptor neurons

This study shows that Ano2 clamps odor-evoked spike activity in olfactory receptor neurons in vivo, despite reduced transduction currents in Ano2-/- mice.

Thresholding of sensory inputs by extrasynaptic glutamate receptors in olfactory bulb glomeruli

The paper demonstrates that extrasynaptic glutamatergic signaling in olfactory bulb glomeruli creates a thresholding effect by balancing excitation and inhibition, allowing only strong stimuli to produce an output.

Antagonism in olfactory receptor neurons and its implications for the perception of odor mixtures

The paper models how mammalian olfactory receptor neurons process odor mixtures, showing antagonistic interactions lead to normalization of glomerular responses and improve odor discrimination.