Olfaction in the fetal and premature infant: functional status and clinical implications.

This article considers olfaction as a functioning source of information for the fetus and the neonate, born on term or prematurely. It aims to present how odors are involved in the sensory continuity between the prenatal and postnatal environments and how they influence the earliest adaptive responses of newborns in the realms of self-regulation, emotional balance, feeding, and social interactions.Finally, it evaluates odors as sensory means to ameliorate the physiologic and behavioral responses of preterm infants to the adverse impacts of separation from mother, nonoral feeding, or iatrogenic distress.

Salivary redox status: a key parameter involved in the release and perception of sensory stimuli in human

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Modelling analysis of centroid curves of olfactory habituation in humans

Indexation en cours.; International audience; Previously published experiments established the time-course of olfactory habituation in humans, and extracted 3 centroid curves from clustering analysis that reflected high, middle and low habituation. The aim of the current theoretical study was to further analyse these previous experimental data by developing a mathematical modelling analysis designed for fitting the 3 curves from a general equation. After adjusting equation parameters for each curve, fitting equation outcomes on experimental data yielded high correlation coefficients of 0.9997 – 0.9995 – 0.9962, respectively. A model-based interpretation of olfactory-habituation centroid cur…

Multicenter investigation of 1,036 subjects using a standardized method for the assessment of olfactory function combining tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds.

“Sniffin’ Sticks” is a test of nasal chemosensory performance that is based on penlike odor-dispensing devices. It is comprised of three tests of olfactory function: tests for odor threshold, discrimination and identification. Previous work has already established its test-retest reliability and validity in comparison to established measures of olfactory sensitivity. The results of this test are presented as a composite TDI score – i.e., the sum of results obtained for threshold, discrimination and identification measures. The present multicenter investigation aimed at providing normative values in relation to different age groups. To this end, 966 patients were investigated in 11 centers. …

Olfactory training is helpful in postinfectious olfactory loss: A randomized, controlled, multicenter study

Objectives/Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of olfactory training (OT) on olfactory function in patients with persistent postinfectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD). Study Design: Randomized, single-blind, controlled, multicenter crossover study. Methods: Twelve tertiary university medical centers participated. Investigations were performed at three visits (base- line, after 18 weeks, and after 36 weeks), including only subjects with PIOD of <24-months duration. At each visit, partici- pants received detailed assessment of olfactory function. Seventy subjects trained with high concentrations of four odors for 18 weeks; the other half (n 5 74) trained with low co…

Olfactory Event-Related Potentials Reflect Individual Differences in Odor Valence Perception

Investigating the neural substrates of perceived quality in olfaction using different odorants is intrinsically difficult. By utilizing individual differences in perceived quality of the odor of androstenone, we obtained a continuum of individual differences in rated valence of the same stimulus allowing investigations of its manifestation in the olfactory event-related potentials (ERPs). In an initial group consisting of 43 individuals that were screened for their verbal descriptors and sensitivity for the odor of androstenone, 22 normosmic volunteers were chosen forming 2 distinct groups with regard to verbal labels (‘‘body odor'' and ‘‘nonbody odor'') for androstenone while maintaining c…

Synergy and masking in odor mixtures: an electrophysiological study of orthonasal vs. retronasal perception

Perceptual interactions in a model of wine woody–fruity binary mixtures were previously reported in a psychophysical study performed through orthonasal stimulation only. However, recent studies suggested that the perception of food-like and nonfood-like odors may depend on the route of stimulation. The aim of the present study was two-fold: first to examine the neural correlates of perceptual interactions using electroencephalogram (EEG)-derived event-related potentials (ERPs) and second to test the influence of the stimulation route on quality perception. Therefore, we designed an experiment with 30 subjects to study perceptual interactions in woody–fruity mixtures and compared ortho- vs. …

Olfactory function in children assessed with psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques

International audience; The olfactory information processing abilities of children undergo changes during early life. The aims of the present study were to describe these changes and to probe for their electrophysiological correlates. These aims were investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, responses of 146 subjects (3-12 years) were tested with psychophysical tools. Approximately 2/3 of the subjects completed the olfactory tests ("Sniffin' Sticks"). In Experiment 2, 12 additional subjects (3-10 years) were tested with electrophysiological tools. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in response to olfactory stimulation with H(2)S. Results from Experiment 1 indicated that d…

Impact of aldehyde dehydrogenases and aldo-keto reductases on human olfactory peri-receptor events

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Cortical activation of androstadienone is different from perceptually similar odorants

Body odors of newborns activate neuronal regions associated with reward in women

abstract in symposium Cerebral Imaging in Taste and Olfaction; Olfactory signals are prime mediators of mother-infant bonding in. mammals, and they have been shown to be linked with maternal. attitudes and behavior in our own species as well. Human mothers. are indeed highly attentive to their infants odor cues, but although. we have good understanding of the neuronal network supporting. mother-infant olfactory recognition in various mammals, to date. no such information exists for humans. The present study is a first attempt at delineating the neural. network underlying the processing of infant odor properties by. women. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),. we measured the …

Commencing countdown engines on - interplanetary flavour perception on a mission to Mars

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A putative social chemosignal elicits faster cortical responses than perceptually similar odorants.

Social chemosignals, so-called pheromones, have recently attracted much attention in that effects on women's psychophysiology and cortical processing have been reported. We here tested the hypothesis that the human brain would process a putative social chemosignal, the endogenous steroid endrostadienone, faster than other odorants with perceptually matched intensity and hedonic characteristics. Chemosensory event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded in healthy women. ERP analyses indicate that androstadienone was processed significantly faster than the control odorants. Androstadienone elicited shorter latencies for all recorded ERP components but most so for the late positivity. This fin…

Differences in the Density of Fungiform Papillae and Composition of Saliva in Patients With Taste Disorders Compared to Healthy Controls

International audience; This study investigated the relation of the fungiform taste papillae density and saliva composition with the taste perception of patients suffering from diagnosed taste disorders. For this purpose, 81 patients and 40 healthy subjects were included. Taste was measured by means of regional and whole mouth chemosensory tests, and electrogustometry. Olfaction was assessed using the Sniffin Sticks. Fungiform papillae were quantified using the "Denver Papillae Protocol for Objective Analysis of Fungiform Papillae". In addition, salivary parameters [flow rate, total proteins, catalase, total anti-oxidative capacity (TAC), carbonic anhydrase VI (caVI), and pH] were determine…

Dépression, comportements émotionnels et qualité de vie : une remédiation des états dépressifs par les odeurs est-elle possible ? Quelques liens réciproques éclairés par les sens chimiques

Habituation and adaptation to odors in humans

indexation en cours; Habituation, or decreased behavioral response, to odors is created by repeated exposure and several detailed characteristics, whereas adaptation relates to the neural processes that constitute this decrease in a behavioral response. As with all senses, the olfactory system continually encounters an enormous variety of odorants which is why mechanisms must exist to segment them and respond to changes. Although most olfactory habitation studies have focused on animal models, this non-systematic review provides an overview of olfactory habituation and adaptation in humans, and techniques that have been used to measure them. Thus far, psychophysics in combination with moder…

To Mars and back - with added flavour!

To Mars and back - with added flavour!. 257. National Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS)

Lateralized and Bilateral Olfactory Function in Patients With Chronic Sinusitis Compared With Healthy Control Subjects

Results of this study demonstrated that a new olfactory test, the "Sniffin' Sticks," can be used to distinguish hyposmic patients with chronic sinusitis (n = 63) from control subjects. Dirhinic testing yielded improved olfactory sensitivity compared with monorhinic testing. However, dirhinic results were not significantly different from results obtained for the best nostril.

Decreasing prevalence of specific anosmia to non-steroid odorants from childhood to adolescence

International audience; Specific anosmia is defined as the inability to detect a particular odorant, despite a normal olfactory function. Previous studies reported sex-related difference in detection threshold to steroid odorants, like androstenone or androstadienone during adolescence, and boys showed an increased detection threshold with age. However, such investigations have not been performed for non-steroid odorants. Hence, the current study investigated sex- and age-related effects on the prevalence of specific anosmia in children/adolescents aged 5-14 years (n = 800) to non-steroid odorants. The detection thresholds of three non-steroid odorants (bacdanol, methylsalicylate, and 3-hyd…

Olfactory configural and elemental abilities in adults with autism

Olfactory configural and elemental abilities in adults with autism. Clinical chemosensation 2014

New determinants of olfactory habituation

AbstractHabituation is a filter that optimizes the processing of information by our brain in all sensory modalities. It results in an unconscious reduced responsiveness to continuous or repetitive stimulation. In olfaction, the main question is whether habituation works the same way for any odorant or whether we habituate differently to each odorant? In particular, whether chemical, physical or perceptual cues can limit or increase habituation. To test this, the odour intensity of 32 odorants differing in physicochemical characteristics was rated by 58 participants continuously during 120s. Each odorant was delivered at a constant concentration. Results showed odorants differed significantl…

Is the superior temporal sulcus involved in the reinforced configural processing of a binary odor mixture?

Is the superior temporal sulcus involved in the reinforced configural processing of a binary odor mixture?. 35. annual meeting - association for chemoreception sciences (AChemS)

Evidence of peripheral olfactory adaptation

Is the superior temporal sulcus involved in the reinforced configural processing of a binary odor mixture?

Is the superior temporal sulcus involved in the reinforced configural processing of a binary odor mixture?. 35. annual meeting - association for chemoreception sciences (AChemS)

Factors affecting flavor perception in space: Does the spacecraft environment influence food intake by astronauts?

International audience; The intention to send a crewed mission to Mars involves a huge amount of planning to ensure a safe and successful mission. Providing adequate amounts of food for the crew is a major task, but 20 years of feeding astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have resulted in a good knowledge base. A crucial observation from the ISS is that astronauts typically consume only 80% of their daily calorie requirements when in space. This is despite daily exercise regimes that keep energy usage at very similar levels to those found on Earth. This calorie deficit seems to have little effect on astronauts who spend up to 12 months on the ISS, but given that a mission to …

Taste Bud Density and Composition of Saliva in Patients Suffering from Taste Disorders Compared to Healthy Individuals

Aim: Previous studies have shown a correlation between fungiform papillae density and acuity of taste. In addition changes of salivary composition in oral sensation complaints were observed as well. Aim of this prospective investigation was to determine correlations between the fungiform papillae density, salivary composition and taste acuity of healthy individuals and patients with idiopathic taste disorders.Material & Methods: The present study was performed in 81 patients with a mean age of 58±13 years complaining of gustatory dysfunctions and groups of 20 younger (age 24±3 years) and 20 older healthy subjects (age 55±10 years).Taste perception was measured using taste strips and electro…

Real-life assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis patients using mobile technology: the mySinusitisCoach project by EUFOREA

Abstract Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with a substantial personal and socioeconomic burden. Monitoring of patient‐reported outcomes by mobile technology offers the possibility to better understand real‐life burden of CRS. Methods This study reports on the cross‐sectional evaluation of data of 626 users of mySinusitisCoach (mSC), a mobile application for CRS patients. Patient characteristics of mSC users were analysed as well as the level of disease control based on VAS global rhinosinusitis symptom score and adapted EPOS criteria. Results The mSC cohort represents a heterogeneous group of CRS patients with a diverse pattern of major sy…