Olfactory landmarks and path integration converge to form a cognitive spatial map

This paper on olfactory landmarks is interesting as it covers the idea that the distinctive smell of a place can help navigation by creating a new landmark for helping an animal navigate.

The recognition of a spatial landmark by its sensory features poses a problem for neural circuits. Fischler-Ruiz, et al. show how this problem is solved when mice use odour cues to navigate in the dark. In the hippocampus, path integration imposes spatial meaning on odour cues, thereby creating new landmarks.