Chapter
1: The Nuts and Bolts of Olfaction
How is an Odour Detected and Processed by the Nervous System?
The molecular basis of odour detection
The largest family of receptors in the genome
First step . . . the olfactory epithelia
Odorant detection is based on combinatory recognition
Many brain structures are involved in the processing of odours
The Behavioural Consequences of Odour Detection
Perspectives: Building Biosensors Using the Specificity of Olfactory Receptors
2: Innateness and Learning in Olfactory Behaviour and Odour Perception
Innate Response to an Odour
Changes to Innate Odour Valence via Infection
Innate or Learned Response to an Odour?
Learned odour recognition
Changes to odour valence through learning
3: Semiochemicals: Pheromones, Signature Mixtures and Behaviour
What Do We Mean by Pheromone? An Operational Definition
The Challenge of Pheromone Primer Effects
Individual Recognition: Signature Mixtures
Interactions between Pheromones and Signature Mixtures
Memory and pregnancy block (Bruce effect)
Applying a Knowledge of Pheromones and Signature Mixtures
4: Behavioural Tests of Olfaction
Simple non-automated associative conditioning methods
Olfactometry – combining precision control of odours with operant conditioning
Testing the valence of odours
5: Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Smell?
Recent Olfactory History: Tackling Foul Smells in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Predicting the Perceived Valence of Odours
Olfactory World Tour in a Nutshell
Chemistry of Human Body Odours
Epigenetics Push the Boundaries between Nature and Nurture: The Example of Olfactory Aversive Conditioning
How to Change an Aversive Odour to a Preferred One through Evolution
Conclusion: In Praise of Bad Smells
6: The Role of Olfaction in Feeding and Foraging
Role of Olfaction in Locating Food
Olfaction is modulated by post-ingestive consequences
Role of Olfaction in Memorizing Food Source Locations
Salience of olfactory food memories
Role of Olfaction in Learning from Other Individuals What to Eat
Role of Olfaction in Feeding and Foraging: Can It Be Used to Improve Animal Welfare?
7: The Role of Olfaction in Mate Selection and Reproductive Behaviour
Scent marking behaviour and mate attraction
Discrimination between individual characteristics when looking for partners
Assessment of body condition, health condition and parasite load of potential partners
Detecting the reproductive status of partners
Kin recognition and inbreeding avoidance
Major histocompatibility complex-associated mate choice
Induction of reproduction via olfaction
Suppression of reproduction mediated by conspecific chemical cues
Selective response to chemical cues of conspecifics in relation to physiological state
8: The Role of Olfaction in Maternal Care and Offspring Survival
Olfaction and the onset of maternal behaviour
Olfaction regulates avoidance of the neonate in non-pregnant females
Olfaction is key for the onset of maternal behaviour at parturition
Olfaction regulates specific component of maternal behaviour
Olfaction and recognition of the young
Offspring recognition in altricial species
Offspring recognition in precocial species
Genotypic and environmental influences of olfactory signatures
Olfaction and nipple search behaviour
Intermediate and precocial species
Recognition of the postnatal environment
Intermediate and precocial species
Early olfactory learning and transmission of food preference
Intermediate and precocial species
9: The Role of Olfaction in Disease Detection and Prevention
Why Do Some Diseases Smell?
Human Diseases Detectable by a Human Nose
Animal Diseases Associated with Odour
Recognition of Disease in Conspecifics
Recognition of Human Diseases by Animals
Modern Technologies to Detect Disease-related Volatiles
Impairment of Olfaction in Disease
10: The Role of Olfaction in Relation to Stress and Fear
Definitions: The Stress Response and Fear
Hans Selye: the strange case of the clumsy experimentalist
The stress response: mechanisms
Who is feeling stressed? How to detect a stress response, and its behavioural consequences
Olfaction is Affected by Stress
Odours Can Induce a Stress Reaction
Fear from predator odours
Stress communicated from conspecifics
Odours that Alleviate the Effects of the Stress Response?
11: The Role of Olfaction in Animal Housing and as Enrichment
The Rationale for Using Olfactory Stimulation
Animal-based Olfactory Enrichment
Plant-based Olfactory Enrichment
Practical Applications, Problem Issues and Further Considerations
12: Olfactory Behaviour in Farm Animals
Olfaction and Social Discrimination in Farm Animals
Olfaction and Reproduction on Farms
Olfaction in Relation to Fear and Stress in Farm Animals
Use of Familiar Odours to Facilitate Adaptation to Novel Situations on Farms
Interference between Olfaction and Intensive Husbandry Conditions
Conclusions and Future Directions
13: Olfactory Behaviour in Zoo Animals
Novelty in the Captive Environment
Stressful Scents and Their Absence
Use of Biologically Relevant and Irrelevant Scents to Expand Behavioural Repertoire
Encouraging Reluctant Breeders
Manipulating Mate Choice, Overcoming Incompatibility and Distance
Training for Release into the Wild
14: Olfactory Behaviour in Laboratory Animals
A note on the role of olfaction in fish
Mammalian Behaviour and Olfaction
How to Evaluate an Animal’s Emotional State?
Purported Consequences of Olfactory Deprivation and Stimulation
Intentional Stimulation with Odorants
Non-intentional Stimulation with Odorants
Olfactory Environment in the Laboratory
Consequences for Behaviour
Laboratory Environment and External Validity
15: Olfactory Behaviour in Companion Animals
Considerations Regarding Olfaction in Companion Animals
Olfactory Detection and Discrimination
Olfaction – a Life-long Influence
Olfactory Guided Behaviour
Olfaction in Animal Behaviour and Welfare
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