Olfactory receptor usage is highly non-uniform , with some receptor types being orders of magnitude more abundant than others. We propose an explanation for this striking fact: the receptor distribution is tuned to maximally represent information about the olfactory environment in a little-studied regime of efficient coding that is sensitive to the global context of correlated sensor responses. This model predicts further that in mammals, where olfactory sensory neurons are replaced regularly, receptor abundances should continuously adapt to odor statistics. Indeed, experiments have found such changes in response to olfactory experience. These changes are mysteriously context-dependent, with increased exposure to odorants leading variously to increased, decreased  or unchanged abundances of  activated receptors. We show that efficient coding theory predicts precisely such a context-dependence when sensors are correlated . Finally, we demonstrate simple dynamical rules for neural birth and death processes that might provide a mechanism for receptor abundances to adapt optimally .
Olfactory receptor usage is highly heterogeneous , with some receptor types being orders of magnitude more abundant than others. We propose an explanation for this striking fact: the receptor distribution is tuned to maximally represent information about the olfactory environment in a regime of efficient coding that is sensitive to the global context of correlated sensor responses. This model predicts that in mammals, where olfactory sensory neurons are replaced regularly, receptor abundances should continuously adapt to odor statistics. Experimentally, increased exposure to odorants leads variously, but reproducibly, to increased, decreased , or unchanged abundances of different activated receptors. We demonstrate that this diversity of effects is required for efficient coding when sensors are broadly correlated, and provide an algorithm for predicting which olfactory receptors should increase or decrease in abundance following specific environmental changes . Finally, we give simple dynamical rules for neural birth and death processes that might underlie this adaptation .
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non-uniform
heterogeneous
D
little-studied
D
further
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Indeed, experiments have found such changes in response to olfactory experience. These changes are mysteriously context-dependent, with
Experimentally,
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leading variously
leads variously, but reproducibly,
A
,
A
different
R
show that efficient coding theory predicts precisely such a context-dependence
demonstrate that this diversity of effects is required for efficient coding
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correlated
broadly correlated, and provide an algorithm for predicting which olfactory receptors should increase or decrease in abundance following specific environmental changes
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demonstrate
give
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provide a mechanism for receptor abundances to adapt optimally
underlie this adaptation