Dataset for: Majority of olfactory-receptor neurons have individually neutral effects on behavior

Summary

Animals use olfactory receptors to navigate danger, mates, and food. However, for complex olfactory systems, it is unknown what proportion of olfactory-receptor neurons (ORNs) can individually drive avoidance or attraction. Similarly it is unclear what rules govern behavioral responses to ORN-activity combinations. We used optogenetic analysis in Drosophila to map the behavior elicited by nearly all ORN classes; just one-fifth of ORNs drove either avoidance or attraction. Although wind and hunger are closely linked to olfaction, neither context had much effect on single-ORN-class behavior. Various models have been used to explain the way multiple ORNs combine their behavioral influences, including several simple pooling rules. To assess these, we activated two-way combinations and compared patterns of single- and double-ORN responses: these comparisons were inconsistent with simple pooling. We conclude that the majority of ORN types have neutral behavioral effects individually, but participate in broad, odor-elicited ensembles with potent behavioral effects arising from complex interactions.