Most animals depend upon olfaction to find food, mates, and to avoid predators. An animal's olfactory circuit helps it sense its olfactory environment and generate critical behavioral responses. The general architecture of the olfactory circuit, which is conserved across species, is made up of a few different neuronal types including first-order receptor neurons, second- and third-order neurons, and local interneurons. Each neuronal type differs in their morphology, physiology, and neurochemistry. However, several recent studies have suggested that there is intrinsic diversity even among neurons of the same type and that this diversity is important for neural function. In this review, we first examine instances of intrinsic diversity observed among individual types of olfactory neurons. Next, we review potential genetic and experience-based plasticity mechanisms that underlie this diversity. Finally, we consider the implications of intrinsic neuronal diversity for circuit function. Overall, we hope to highlight the importance of intrinsic diversity as a previously underestimated property of circuit function.

中文翻译：

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多样性的优势：同一类型的嗅觉神经元之间的功能多样性。

大多数动物依靠嗅觉来寻找食物、交配并躲避捕食者。动物的嗅觉回路帮助其感知嗅觉环境并产生关键的行为反应。嗅觉回路的总体结构在物种间是保守的，由几种不同的神经元类型组成，包括一级受体神经元、二级和三级神经元以及局部中间神经元。每种神经元类型在形态、生理学和神经化学方面都不同。然而，最近的几项研究表明，即使在同一类型的神经元之间也存在内在多样性，并且这种多样性对于神经功能很重要。在这篇综述中，我们首先检查在各个类型的嗅觉神经元中观察到的内在多样性的实例。接下来，我们回顾了这种多样性背后的潜在遗传和基于经验的可塑性机制。最后，我们考虑内在神经元多样性对电路功能的影响。总的来说，我们希望强调内在多样性作为先前被低估的电路功能属性的重要性。