Rapid temporal processing in the olfactory bulb underlies concentration-invariant odor identification and signal decorrelation

Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 14 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02250-y

This study shows that the brain’s smell center uses precise timing and inhibition to read out early odor signals, enabling reliable odor identity across concentrations while rapidly separating (decorrelating) similar smell patterns for better discrimination.