Olfactory learning abilities in staggerer mutant mice

C R Acad Sci III. 1999 Jun;322(6):467-71. doi: 10.1016/s0764-4469(99)80096-1.

Abstract

Staggerer mutant mice were compared to non-mutant mice in two olfactory learning tasks. It was found that, in spite of a delayed acquisition compared to non-mutants, staggerer mice were able to learn an olfactory habituation task. On the other hand, staggerer presented deficits in an associative olfactory task and, contrary to non-mutants, did not learn this task. Perturbations in olfactory bulbs of staggerer mice could explain their olfactory learning deficits.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzaldehydes
  • Exploratory Behavior
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic
  • Learning*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Neurologic Mutants
  • Mutation*
  • Olfactory Bulb / physiology
  • Smell* / genetics

Substances

  • Benzaldehydes
  • vanillin