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Olfaction pp 95–131Cite as

The Electro-Olfactogram

A Review of Studies on the Receptor Potential of the Olfactory Organ

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Part of the book series: Handbook of Sensory Physiology ((1730,volume 4 / 1))

Abstract

It is generally agreed today that the impulse discharge in primary afferent fibres of sense organs is triggered by a local depolarization produced by the receptor cells. Beck (1899) was probably the first to record a pure receptor potential. In studies on the electrical reaction of the eye of Eledone he found that the receptor layer became more negative during illumination. Beck had no photographic equipment for recording the response. In order to bring out the time course of the potential change he therefore made graphical reconstructions from the readings of the galvanometer. Fig. 1 shows one of these reconstructed responses. Beck described the response as follows:

  • „Beim Kommen des Lichtes erfolgt ein starker Anschlag, der rapid das Maximum erreicht. Sofort nach Erreichung des Maximums tritt ein allmähliches, aber doch anfangs bedeutend rascheres Sinken als in den Kurven des ersten Typus ein. Dauert die Belichtung lange, so erfolgt nach dem raschen ein langsames Sinken, bis wieder eine Grenze erreicht wird, auf welcher die Ablenkung stehen bleibt oder sich sogar hebt. Bei Eintritt der Verdunkelung bemerken wir wieder ein rascheres Sinken der Schwankung, besonders rasch und jäh nach dauernder Belichtung, langsamer nach lang dauernder Belichtung.“

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    David Ottoson

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  1. David Ottoson
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Lloyd M. Beidler

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Ottoson, D. (1971). The Electro-Olfactogram. In: Beidler, L.M. (eds) Olfaction. Handbook of Sensory Physiology, vol 4 / 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65126-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65126-7_5

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