Our results also differ from recent work describing a role for the α’β’ neurons in acquisition of memory for both aversive (shock) and appetitive (sucrose) conditioning21. This model suggests that olfactory information received from the second-order olfactory projection neurons is first processed in parallel by the αβ and α’β’ neurons during acquisition21. Subsequently, memories are stored in αβ neurons, whose activity is required during recall21. Our data suggests that for ethanol reward memories, olfactory information received from the second-order olfactory projection neurons is first processed in parallel by the αβ and γ neurons prior to activity of α’β’ neurons establishing consolidation of memory in the αβ neurons. Then, like memories for shock and sucrose, memories for ethanol reward are stored in αβ neurons, whose activity is required during recall.
