My current research focuses on the understanding of some of the neural processes taking place in the olfactory system at the level of the olfactory mucosa, the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex. Specifically, I am studying the complex interaction taking place between nutritional status and olfactory processing.
Using various in vitro electrophysiological recordings performed on brain slice, I investigate how olfactory networks are modulated by the peptides regulating food-intake (insulin, leptin) and by the blood sugar level. These works identified the olfactory receptor neurons, mitral cells and pyramidal cells as the main targets of the regulation of the olfactory sensitivity by the nutritional state.
