They receive information from the axons of olfactory receptor neurons, forming synapses in neuropils called glomeruli.

One prominent hypothesis is that mitral cells encode the strength of an olfactory input into their firing phases relative to the sniff cycle.

A second hypothesis is that the olfactory bulb network acts as a dynamical system that decorrelates to differentiate between representations of highly similar odorants over time.

One possible hypothesis implicates the system in forming sparse representation which enable more effective pattern separation.

Most importantly, projections target the olfactory cortex, where odor information can be integrated with input from other sensory modalities and used to drive behavior.

Mitral cells project to the olfactory tubercle, where chemical information is integrated with auditory signals.

Mitral cells carrying pheromonal inputs project to the amygdala and hypothalamus to drive instinctive behaviors.

Whereas piriform cortex is innervated mostly randomly, projections to the anterior olfactory nucleus and amygdala retain some topographic order.