1
|
Shubin L, Anne B, Christine K, Barry S, Katie W, Harry S, Beth L, Thomas H. A novel olfactory sorting task. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024:10.1007/s00405-024-08811-w. [PMID: 39001921 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08811-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to develop a simple self-administered screening tool for odor memory, which allowed users to self-test their olfactory function repeatedly even at home. METHODS One hundred and ten participants were recruited (30 men, age = 50.1 ± 9.9 years; 80 women, age = 47.1 ± 11.5 years); half of them were heathy volunteers, the other half were patients with olfactory dysfunction. Fifty-one healthy participants volunteered for a retest within an interval of a maximum of 14 days. Olfactory function was assessed using the extended Sniffin' Sticks test (SST) comprising tests for odor threshold, identification, and discrimination. All participants received the Novel Olfactory Sorting Task (NOST) which is based on the sorting of 12 matching pairs of odors involving olfactory and cognitive functions. After that, all participants rated questions related to their test performance and the practicability of the test. RESULTS Consistent with the previous literature, significant effects of age were found. Results showed an acceptable test-retest reliability and a satisfactory validity of the NOST. The NOST score not only had positive correlations with SST, but also was capable of differentiating severe hyposmia/anosmia from normosmia by the score of 5.5 (sensitivity of 76.2%, specificity of 77.6%). CONCLUSION The present study showed the good reliability, validity, and possible clinical usefulness of the NOST. As a self-performed screening test, it can be comprehended and conducted easily, which may provide a quick and simple approach to obtaining a global estimation of olfactory and cognitive functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Shubin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Becker Anne
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kelly Christine
- AbScent, 14 London Street, Andover, Hampshire, UK
- Centre for Olfactory Research and Applications, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
| | - Smith Barry
- Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
- Centre for Olfactory Research and Applications, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
| | - Whitcroft Katie
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Centre for Olfactory Research and Applications, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
| | - Sherwood Harry
- AbScent, 14 London Street, Andover, Hampshire, UK
- Centre for Olfactory Research and Applications, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
| | - Longley Beth
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, London, UK
| | - Hummel Thomas
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Centre for Olfactory Research and Applications, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sabiniewicz A, Sorokowska A, Palmiero M, Nicotra M, Sorokowski P. Gender differences in the relationship between neuroticism and odor memory. Physiol Behav 2024; 276:114475. [PMID: 38278502 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Given the indications on the relationship between neuroticism and various olfactory functions as well as the emotionality of odor memory, it is surprising that no research so far has investigated whether neuroticism corresponds with odor memory performance. Thus, the purpose of our study was to address this question in the context of gender differences. Participants (73 men) completed the 60-items NEO Five Factor Inventory and participated in 32-items "Test for odor memory". In the separate analyses conducted for men and women, we demonstrated that women outperformed men regarding the number of correct odor recognitions in the odor memory test and had higher neuroticism level than men. Spearman correlation showed further that neuroticism was positively associated with D-prime (R = 0.3, p = .021) and the number of correct odor recognitions in women (R = 0.32, p = .014). This effect was, respectively, moderately (B10 = 5.2) and strongly confirmed using the Bayesian approach (B10 = 8). However, Bonferroni post-hoc correction for multiple comparisons further revealed that in case of neuroticism and the number of hits, as well as D-prime, alpha level was below significance, indicated by p = .006. The correlation between neuroticism level and odor memory performance was significantly higher in women compared to men (Z = 1.8, p = .038), while in case of neuroticism and D-prime, it was on a trend level (Z = 1.5, p = .074). Overall, the present results indicate that neuroticism might be linked to conscious odors' remembering for women, which can be explained by the warning role of odor memory and its connection to limbic structures, as well as by the higher level of neuroticism and odor memory performance in women compared to men.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sabiniewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland; Interdisciplinary Center "Smell & Taste", Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland; Interdisciplinary Center "Smell & Taste", Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Michele Nicotra
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|