Perceptive properties of the multi-site electrical microstimulation of the olfactory bulb in the rat.

Electrical microstimulation of the olfactory bulb in different locations has been shown to provide water-deprived rats with discriminative cues for selecting a palatable solution without tasting it in a two-choice test. Some perceptive properties of bulbar electrical stimulation were investigated. It was shown that the perceptive effect evoked by stimulating a given site could be recognized when this site was stimulated together with several others. The animals' perception of multi-site stimulation patterns seems therefore to be analytical rather than synthetic. Discrimination of stimulation patterns did not require presentation of concurrent patterns inside a short time interval. Identification of a multi-site pattern was possible when this pattern was presented alone in a test session. Individual characteristics of bulbar microstimulation appear to be perceived absolutely rather than differentially. A good retention of the discrimination learning of specific stimulation patterns was observed. Animals could identify stimulation patterns after complete interruption of the training for 17 days. The results are discussed with reference to the properties of the natural stimulation of the olfactory system.