Bilateral olfaction: two is better than one for navigation

Genome Biol. 2008;9(3):212. doi: 10.1186/gb-2008-9-3-212. Epub 2008 Mar 31.

Abstract

Do animals require bilateral input to track odors? A recent study reveals that fruit fly larvae can localize odor sources using unilateral inputs from a single functional sensory neuron, but that an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio provided by dual inputs is helpful in more challenging environments.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemotaxis
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
  • Drosophila melanogaster / physiology*
  • Larva / genetics
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / physiology
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology*
  • Odorants*
  • Smell / genetics
  • Smell / physiology*