Intrinsic Activity of Odorant Receptors Guides Sensory Map Formation

Olfactory sensory neurons innervate the olfactory bulb in stereotyped patterns according to the odorant receptors they express. A study by Nakashima et al. in this issue demonstrates that the odorant receptor's level of intrinsic activity—in the absence of activating odorant—influences the guidance of olfactory axons to their targets.