Role of bulbar neurogenesis in odor memory

The system consisting of the subventricular zone and the olfactory bulb is one of the two brain regions capable of producing new neurons in adulthood. The identification of this adult bulbar neurogenesis has raised many questions about its functional role. However, studies in this field are scarce and contradictory. The objective of this thesis was to study the impact of different olfactory experiences on neurogenesis in order to better understand its functional role. First, we have shown that 5 weeks old neoneurons were recruited during olfactory discrimination learning but not during the restitution of this information, then we have shown that maternity improved olfactory performances, and that this improvement was abolished by gestational stress. However, we were not able to relate these modifications of olfactory performances linked to maternity and stress with variations of neurogenesis.