Mice and humans evaluate odor stimulus strength using common psychophysical principles

Abstract

Sensory systems translate physical stimuli from the environment--such as light, sound, or chemicals--into signals that the brain can interpret. Across these systems, the amplitude of a stimulus is represented by its perceived intensity. Although previous research has extensively studied how the brain represents physical stimuli, less is known about how it represents perceptual variables such as stimulus intensity. This is primarily due to the difficulty in measuring perceptual responses in animal models, where neural recordings are more accessible. In this study, we use mouse olfaction as a model system to develop a framework for measuring perceived odor intensity. We begin by employing a two-odor concentration classification task to demonstrate that both mice and humans assess stimulus amplitude using a common perceptual scale. We then show that this scale corresponds to intensity. Finally, we apply this method to determine isointense concentrations of different odorants in mice. Our approach offers a powerful tool for testing hypotheses about the neural mechanisms underlying perceived odor intensity, potentially enhancing our understanding of olfactory processing and its neural substrates.