Functional role of the anterior olfactory nucleus in sensory information processing

Abstract Olfaction, despite being evolutionarily one of the oldest senses, is complex in structure and function. It can distinguish between trillions odorants, provides orientation, mediates social interactions, serves as a warning system. Sensory signals from periphery are first processed olfactory bulb (OB) then distributed to several cortical structures. Unlike other sensory modalities, this primary information not relayed via thalamus. One prominent region anterior nucleus (AON), two-layered located within peduncle. The AON exerts strong reciprocal connections only OB but also higher brain areas, e.g., piriform cortex (PCx), thereby serving hub for bottom-up top-down processing. However, functional role well-understood. Here, we provide an overview recent publications investigating function processing behavior present framework future research on fascinating archicortical structure.