Multiple network properties overcome random connectivity to enable stereotypic sensory responses.

Connections between neuronal populations may be genetically hardwired or random. In the insect olfactory system, projection neurons of the antennal lobe connect randomly to Kenyon cells of the mushroom body. Consequently, while the odor responses of the projection neurons are stereotyped across individuals, the responses of the Kenyon cells are variable.

Sensory Coding: Neurons That Wire Together Fire Longer.

Sensory neurons for smell and taste in insects reside in sensilla. Experiments in bumblebees reveal an unusual benefit of this arrangement: interaction between co-housed gustatory neurons promotes bursting in their responses and delays their adaptation.