Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the neurophysiological activity in the olfactory system. Frequency and amplitude of the field potentials, slow, induced and sinusoidal waves were measured during periods of rest and olfactory exploration. The animal was allowed to roam freely in the observation area, in which scents of conspecific animals were amply present, while the behaviour, as well as the electrical activity were recorded simultaneously, the first by means of coded d.c. signals, the latter by means of telemetry techniques. The results suggest that the slow wave in the olfactory bulb ranging from 0.5 to 6 Hz is a representation of the nasal airflow and furthermore that the variation in frequency and form during different kinds of behaviour is caused by a variation of respiration rate. The amplitude of the simultaneously recorded induced and sinusoidal waves from respectively olfactory bulb and cortex, showed a greater susceptibility during different kinds of behaviour than the frequency. During sniffing a decrease of mean amplitude of both waves was found compared with general (non-olfactory) arousal. Sniffing followed by flehmen gave a maximal decrease. The age of the urine cues affected the mean amplitude. There seemed to be a linear relationship between the frequency of the slow wave and the amplitude of the induced wave during different kinds of behaviour except during flehmen.
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