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Karunanayaka PR, Lu J, Elyan R, Yang QX, Sathian K. Olfactory-trigeminal integration in the primary olfactory cortex. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26772. [PMID: 38962966 PMCID: PMC11222875 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Humans naturally integrate signals from the olfactory and intranasal trigeminal systems. A tight interplay has been demonstrated between these two systems, and yet the neural circuitry mediating olfactory-trigeminal (OT) integration remains poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), combined with psychophysics, this study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying OT integration. Fifteen participants with normal olfactory function performed a localization task with air-puff stimuli, phenylethyl alcohol (PEA; rose odor), or a combination thereof while being scanned. The ability to localize PEA to either nostril was at chance. Yet, its presence significantly improved the localization accuracy of weak, but not strong, air-puffs, when both stimuli were delivered concurrently to the same nostril, but not when different nostrils received the two stimuli. This enhancement in localization accuracy, exemplifying the principles of spatial coincidence and inverse effectiveness in multisensory integration, was associated with multisensory integrative activity in the primary olfactory (POC), orbitofrontal (OFC), superior temporal (STC), inferior parietal (IPC) and cingulate cortices, and in the cerebellum. Multisensory enhancement in most of these regions correlated with behavioral multisensory enhancement, as did increases in connectivity between some of these regions. We interpret these findings as indicating that the POC is part of a distributed brain network mediating integration between the olfactory and trigeminal systems. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Psychophysical and neuroimaging study of olfactory-trigeminal (OT) integration. Behavior, cortical activity, and network connectivity show OT integration. OT integration obeys principles of inverse effectiveness and spatial coincidence. Behavioral and neural measures of OT integration are correlated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna R. Karunanayaka
- Department of RadiologyPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Neural and Behavioral SciencesPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Public Health SciencesPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jiaming Lu
- Department of RadiologyPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Drum Tower HospitalMedical School of Nanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Rommy Elyan
- Department of RadiologyPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Qing X. Yang
- Department of RadiologyPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of NeurosurgeryPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - K. Sathian
- Department of Neural and Behavioral SciencesPennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of NeurologyPenn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of PsychologyPennsylvania State University College of Liberal ArtsState CollegePennsylvaniaUSA
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Garefis K, Markou D, Chatziavramidis A, Nikolaidis V, Markou K, Konstantinidis I. Assessment of Intranasal Function of the Trigeminal Nerve in Daily Clinical Practice. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2024; 86:55-64. [PMID: 38330928 DOI: 10.1159/000536645] [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: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The trigeminal nerve is a mixed cranial nerve responsible for the motor innervation of the masticatory muscles and the sensory innervation of the face, including the nasal cavities. Through its nasal innervation, we perceive sensations, such as cooling, tingling, and burning, while the trigeminal system mediates the perception of airflow. However, the intranasal trigeminal system has received little attention in the clinical evaluation of patients with nasal pathology. SUMMARY Testing methods that enable the clinical assessment of intranasal trigeminal function have recently been developed. This study aims to present the current clinical methods that can be utilised in everyday practice, as described in the literature. These methods include four assessment techniques: (1) the quick screening test of trigeminal sensitivity involves patients rating the intensity of ammonium vapour presented in a lipstick-like container. (2) The lateralisation test requires subjects to identify which nasal cavity is being stimulated by a trigeminal stimulus, such as eucalyptol or menthol, while the other side receives an odourless stimulus. (3) The trigeminal sticks test evaluates the trigeminal function similarly to the olfactory function using sticks filled with trigeminal stimulant liquids. (4) The automated CO2 stimulation device is used for measuring trigeminal pain thresholds, utilising intranasal CO2 stimuli to define the pain threshold. KEY MESSAGES Assessing intranasal trigeminal function clinically may prove useful in evaluating rhinology patients, particularly those who encounter nasal obstruction without anatomical blockage and those experiencing olfactory disorders with suspected trigeminal dysfunction. Despite their limitations, the presented methods may provide useful information about nasal patency, chemosensitivity, and pain sensation in the daily clinical practice of such patients, leading to better therapeutic decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Garefis
- 2nd Academic ORL, Head and Neck Surgery Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Markou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos Chatziavramidis
- 2nd Academic ORL, Head and Neck Surgery Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasilios Nikolaidis
- 2nd Academic ORL, Head and Neck Surgery Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Markou
- 2nd Academic ORL, Head and Neck Surgery Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Iordanis Konstantinidis
- 2nd Academic ORL, Head and Neck Surgery Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Landry C, Nazar R, Simon M, Genest F, Giguère FL, Lepore F, Frasnelli J. Behavioural evidence for enhanced olfactory and trigeminal perception in congenital hearing loss. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:434-445. [PMID: 38185810 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Sensory deprivation, especially hearing loss (HL), offers a valuable model for studying neuroplasticity in the human brain and adaptive behaviours that support the daily lives of those with limited or absent sensory input. The study of olfactory function is particularly important as it is an understudied aspect of sensory deprivation. This study aimed to compare the effects of congenital HL on olfactory capacity by using psychophysical tasks. Methodological concerns from previous studies regarding the onset of HL and cognitive assessments were addressed. We recruited 11 individuals with severe-to-profound sensorineural HL (SNHL) since birth and 11 age- and sex-matched typical hearing non-signers. We used standardized neuropsychological tests to assess typical cognition among participants with SNHL. We evaluated olfactory functions by assessing olfactory detection threshold, odour discrimination and odour identification. Hearing-impaired participants outperformed their typical hearing counterparts in olfactory tasks. We further evaluated the accuracy and response time in identifying and localizing odours to disentangle olfactory sensitivity from trigeminal system sensitivity. Participants with SNHL demonstrated higher sensitivity to both the identification and localization tasks. These findings suggest that congenital SNHL is associated with enhanced higher-level olfactory processing and increased trigeminal sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Landry
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Rim Nazar
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Research Institute of the MUHC, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie Simon
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - François Genest
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Fanny Lécuyer Giguère
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l'hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Franco Lepore
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l'hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département d'anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
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Yotsumoto M, Matsuo M, Kitahata H, Nakanishi S, Denda M, Nagayama M, Nakata S. Phospholipid Molecular Layer that Enhances Distinction of Odors Based on Artificial Sniffing. ACS Sens 2023; 8:4494-4503. [PMID: 38060767 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00382] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
We propose a novel odor-sensing system based on the dynamic response of phospholipid molecular layers for artificial olfaction. Organisms obtain information about their surroundings based on multidimensional information obtained from sniffing, i.e., periodic perturbations. Semiconductor- and receptor-based odor sensors have been developed previously. However, these sensors predominantly identify odors based on one-dimensional information, which limits the type of odor molecule they can identify. Therefore, the development of odor sensors that mimic the olfactory systems of living organisms is useful to overcome this limitation. In this study, we developed a novel odor-sensing system based on the dynamics of phospholipids that responds delicately to chemical substances at room temperature using multidimensional information obtained from periodic perturbations. Odor molecules are periodically supplied to the phospholipid molecular layer as an input sample. The waveform of the surface tension of the phospholipid molecular layer changes depending on the odor molecules and serves as an output. Such characteristic responses originating from the dynamics of odor molecules on the phospholipid molecular layer can be reproduced numerically. The phospholipid molecular layer amplified the information originating from the odor molecule, and the mechanism was evaluated by using surface pressure-area isotherms. This paper offers a platform for an interface-chemistry-based artificial sniffing system as an active sensor and a novel olfactory mechanism via physicochemical responses of the receptor-independent membranes of the organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Yotsumoto
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Muneyuki Matsuo
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kitahata
- Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Yayoi-cho 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Shinobu Nakanishi
- Shiseido Global Innovation Center, 1-2-11, Takashima-cho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0011, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Denda
- Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Sciences, 8F High-Rise Wing, Nakano Campus, Meiji University, 4-21-1 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8525, Japan
| | - Masaharu Nagayama
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, N10 W8, Kita-Ward, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakata
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
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Verro B, Vivoli G, Saraniti C. Hyposmia in COVID-19: Temporal Recovery of Smell: A Preliminary Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1511. [PMID: 37763630 PMCID: PMC10535790 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hypo/anosmia is a characteristic symptom of COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study is to investigate the time of smell recovery and to identify a possible order of perception recovery of different odors in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on not hospitalized COVID-19 patients, selected according to eligible criteria. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee. A questionnaire formulated by our team was submitted to patients in order to know the duration of the hypo/anosmia and hypo/ageusia and the order of odor recovery: vanillin (mixed olfactory/gustatory substances), phenyl ethyl alcohol (rosewater) (pure olfactory substances), eucalyptol (mixed olfactory/trigeminal substances), and eugenol (mixed olfactory/trigeminal/gustatory substances). Results: 181 patients were included. Hypo/ageusia and hypo/anosmia lasted on average 10.25 (±8.26) and 12.8 (±8.80) days, respectively. The most frequent odor recovery sequence was: (1) phenyl ethyl alcohol; (2) eucalyptol; (3) vanillin; and (4) eugenol. In COVID-19 patients, hypo/anosmia occurs more often in women and at a young age. Conclusions: This preliminary investigation highlighted novel data: there is a chronological order in perception recovery of different olfactory substances and, therefore, in the restoration of the various sensitive nerve pathways involved in the sense of smell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Verro
- Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giulia Vivoli
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Microvascular and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Maternal-Infant and Adult Surgical Medical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy;
| | - Carmelo Saraniti
- Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostic, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
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Ekanayake A, Yang Q, Kanekar S, Ahmed B, McCaslin S, Kalra D, Eslinger P, Karunanayaka P. Monorhinal and Birhinal Odor Processing in Humans: an fMRI investigation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.01.551475. [PMID: 37577649 PMCID: PMC10418263 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.01.551475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The olfactory nerve, also known as cranial nerve I, is known to have exclusive ipsilateral projections to primary olfactory cortical structures. It is still unclear whether these projections also correspond to functional pathways of odor processing. In an olfactory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of twenty young healthy subjects with a normal sense of smell, we tested whether nostril specific stimulation with phenyl ethyl alcohol (PEA), a pure olfactory stimulant, asymmetrically activates primary or secondary olfactory-related brain structures such as primary olfactory cortex, entorhinal cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex. The results indicated that without a challenging olfactory task, passive (no sniffing) and active (with sniffing) nostril-specific PEA stimulation did not produce asymmetrical fMRI activation in olfactory cortical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupa Ekanayake
- Grodno State Medical University, Grodno, Belarus
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Qing Yang
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Sangam Kanekar
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Biyar Ahmed
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Silas McCaslin
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Deepak Kalra
- Department of Neurology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Paul Eslinger
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Prasanna Karunanayaka
- Department of Radiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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7
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Trigeminal stimulation is required for neural representations of bimodal odor localization: A time-resolved multivariate EEG and fNIRS study. Neuroimage 2023; 269:119903. [PMID: 36708974 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas neural representations of spatial information are commonly studied in vision, olfactory stimuli might also be able to create such representations via the trigeminal system. We explored in two independent multi-method electroencephalography-functional near-infrared spectroscopy (EEG+fNIRS) experiments (n1=18, n2=14) if monorhinal odor stimuli can evoke spatial representations in the brain. We tested whether this representation depends on trigeminal properties of the stimulus, and if the retention in short-term memory follows the "sensorimotor recruitment theory", using multivariate representational similarity analysis (RSA). We demonstrate that the delta frequency band up to 5 Hz across the scull entail spatial information of which nostril has been stimulated. Delta frequencies were localized in a network involving primary and secondary olfactory, motor-sensory and occipital regions. RSA on fNIRS data showed that monorhinal stimulations evoke neuronal representations in motor-sensory regions and that this representation is kept stable beyond the time of perception. These effects were no longer valid when the odor stimulus did not sufficiently stimulate the trigeminal nerve as well. Our results are first evidence that the trigeminal system can create spatial representations of bimodal odors in the brain and that these representations follow similar principles as the other sensory systems.
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Shen J, Li M, Long C, Yang L, Jiang J. Altered Odor-Evoked Electrophysiological Responses in the Anterior Piriform Cortex of Conscious APP/PS1 Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1277-1289. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-220694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Olfactory decline is an indicator of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although the anterior piriform cortex (aPC) is an important brain area involved in processing olfactory input, little is known about how its neuronal activity is affected in early-stage AD. Objective: To elucidate whether odor-induced electrophysiological responses are altered in the aPC of 3-5-month-old APP/PS1 mice. Methods: Using head-fixed multi-channel recording techniques in APP/PS1 AD mouse model to uncover potential aberrance of the aPC neuronal firing and local field potential (LFP) in response to vanillin. Results: We show that the firing rate of aPC neurons evoked by vanillin is significantly reduced in conscious APP/PS1 mice. LFP analysis demonstrates reduced low- and high-gamma (γ low, γ high) oscillations during both the baseline and odor stimulation periods in APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, according to spike-field coherence (SFC) analysis, APP/PS1 mice show decreased coherence between odor-evoked spikes and γ low rhythms, while the coherence with γ high rhythms and the ΔSFC of the oscillations is unaffected. Furthermore, APP/PS1 mice show reduced phase-locking strength in the baseline period, such that there is no difference between baseline and odor-stimulation conditions. This contrasts markedly with wild type mice, where phase-locking strength decreases on stimulation. Conclusion: The abnormalities in both the neuronal and oscillatory activities of the aPC may serve as electrophysiological indicators of underlying olfactory decline in early AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialun Shen
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Li
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Long
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Yang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinxiang Jiang
- Precise Genome Engineering Center, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
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Cavelius M, Brunel T, Didier A. Lessons from behavioral lateralization in olfaction. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:685-696. [PMID: 34596756 PMCID: PMC8843900 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sensory information, sampled by sensory organs positioned on each side of the body may play a crucial role in organizing brain lateralization. This question is of particular interest with regard to the growing evidence of alteration in lateralization in several psychiatric conditions. In this context, the olfactory system, an ancient, mostly ipsilateral and well-conserved system across phylogeny may prove an interesting model system to understand the behavioral significance of brain lateralization. Here, we focused on behavioral data in vertebrates and non-vertebrates, suggesting that the two hemispheres of the brain differentially processed olfactory cues to achieve diverse sensory operations, such as detection, discrimination, identification of behavioral valuable cues or learning. These include reports across different species on best performances with one nostril or the other or odorant active sampling by one nostril or the other, depending on odorants or contexts. In some species, hints from peripheral anatomical or functional asymmetry were proposed to explain these asymmetries in behavior. Instigations of brain activation or more rarely of brain connectivity evoked by odorants revealed a complex picture with regards to asymmetric patterns which is discussed with respect to behavioral data. Along the steps of the discussed literature, we propose avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Cavelius
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Neuropop Team, Lyon, France.,CNRS 5292, Inserm 1028, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Théo Brunel
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Neuropop Team, Lyon, France.,CNRS 5292, Inserm 1028, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Anne Didier
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Neuropop Team, Lyon, France. .,CNRS 5292, Inserm 1028, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
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Raithel CU, Gottfried JA. Using your nose to find your way: Ethological comparisons between human and non-human species. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 128:766-779. [PMID: 34214515 PMCID: PMC8359807 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction is arguably the least valued among our sensory systems, and its significance for human behavior is often neglected. Spatial navigation represents no exception to the rule: humans are often characterized as purely visual navigators, a view that undermines the contribution of olfactory cues. Accordingly, research investigating whether and how humans use olfaction to navigate space is rare. In comparison, research on olfactory navigation in non-human species is abundant, and identifies behavioral strategies along with neural mechanisms characterizing the use of olfactory cues during spatial tasks. Using an ethological approach, our review draws from studies on olfactory navigation across species to describe the adaptation of strategies under the influence of selective pressure. Mammals interact with spatial environments by abstracting multisensory information into cognitive maps. We thus argue that olfactory cues, alongside inputs from other sensory modalities, play a crucial role in spatial navigation for mammalian species, including humans; that is, odors constitute one of the many building blocks in the formation of cognitive maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara U Raithel
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Hamilton Walk, Stemmler Hall, Room G10, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 425 S. University Avenue, Stephen A. Levin Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Jay A Gottfried
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Hamilton Walk, Stemmler Hall, Room G10, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 425 S. University Avenue, Stephen A. Levin Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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Kokocińska-Kusiak A, Woszczyło M, Zybala M, Maciocha J, Barłowska K, Dzięcioł M. Canine Olfaction: Physiology, Behavior, and Possibilities for Practical Applications. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082463. [PMID: 34438920 PMCID: PMC8388720 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dogs have an extraordinary olfactory capability, which far exceeds that of humans. Dogs’ sense of smell seems to be the main sense, allowing them to not only gather both current and historical information about their surrounding environment, but also to find the source of the smell, which is crucial for locating food, danger, or partners for reproduction. Dogs can be trained by humans to use their olfactory abilities in a variety of fields, with a detection limit often much lower than that of sophisticated laboratory instruments. The specific anatomical and physiological features of dog olfaction allow humans to achieve outstanding results in the detection of drugs, explosives, and different illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, or infectious disease. This article provides an overview of the anatomical features and physiological mechanisms involved in the process of odor detection and identification, as well as behavioral aspects of canine olfaction and its use in the service of humans in many fields. Abstract Olfaction in dogs is crucial for gathering important information about the environment, recognizing individuals, making decisions, and learning. It is far more specialized and sensitive than humans’ sense of smell. Using the strength of dogs’ sense of smell, humans work with dogs for the recognition of different odors, with a precision far exceeding the analytical capabilities of most modern instruments. Due to their extremely sensitive sense of smell, dogs could be used as modern, super-sensitive mobile area scanners, detecting specific chemical signals in real time in various environments outside the laboratory, and then tracking the odor of dynamic targets to their source, also in crowded places. Recent studies show that dogs can detect not only specific scents of drugs or explosives, but also changes in emotions as well as in human cell metabolism during various illnesses, including COVID-19 infection. Here, we provide an overview of canine olfaction, discussing aspects connected with anatomy, physiology, behavioral aspects of sniffing, and factors influencing the olfactory abilities of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kokocińska-Kusiak
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, ul. Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warszawa, Poland; (A.K.-K.); (J.M.)
| | - Martyna Woszczyło
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Mikołaj Zybala
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Doctoral School, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, ul. Konarskiego 2, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland;
| | - Julia Maciocha
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, ul. Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warszawa, Poland; (A.K.-K.); (J.M.)
| | - Katarzyna Barłowska
- Department of Biotechnology and Nutrigenomics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland;
| | - Michał Dzięcioł
- Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland;
- Correspondence:
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Migneault-Bouchard C, Boselie FJM, Hugentobler M, Landis BN, Frasnelli J. Trigeminal impairment in treatment-refractory chronic nasal obstruction. Rhinology 2021; 59:312-318. [PMID: 33847326 DOI: 10.4193/rhin20.510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with anatomically unexplained, chronic nasal obstruction (CNO) that is refractory to medical treatment pose a challenge for clinicians. A surgical solution, addressing mechanical obstacles, is unsuited for these patients. CNO may result from disrupted airflow perception due to activation of the intranasal trigeminal system; therefore, aim of this study is to evaluate if intranasal trigeminal function of these CNO patients is decreased. METHODS In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we compared 143 CNO patients and 58 healthy volunteers, between 18 to 80 years old. We assessed nasal patency by means of rhinomanometry (RM) and measured susceptibility of intranasal trigeminal system by the trigeminal lateralization task (TLT). RESULTS TLT scores were significantly lower in CNO patients compared to controls (p less than 0.001), but RM scores were not different between groups. Accordingly, TLT allowed to identify CNO patients with an accuracy of the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78, while the value for RM was at chance (AUC=0.47). CNO patients showed normal reaction to vasoconstrictive agents with significantly lower RM values after Xylomethazoline application. CONCLUSION Results suggest that reported nasal obstruction in CNO patients without any obvious anatomical obstacle and resistant to medical treatment may be linked to decreased perception of nasal airflow rather than physical obstruction. In this sub-set of CNO patients, trigeminal testing more adequately reflects the reported obstruction than nasal resistance assessment does. In future studies, the relation of the trigeminal status and the subjective sensation of nasal obstruction needs to be addressed with validated patient rated outcome measures (PROMs).
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Affiliation(s)
- C Migneault-Bouchard
- Department of Anatomy, Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres (UQTR), Trois-Rivieres, QC, Canada
| | - F J M Boselie
- Head and Neck Surgery Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology â€" Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - M Hugentobler
- Rhinology-Olfactology Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology â€" Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - B N Landis
- Rhinology-Olfactology Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology â€" Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - J Frasnelli
- Department of Anatomy, Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres (UQTR), Trois-Rivieres, QC, Canada; Research Center of the Sacre-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
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13
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Laing DG, Epps A, Jinks AL. Chemosensory Loss during a Traumatic Brain Injury Suggests a Central Pathway for the Rehabilitation of Anosmia. Chem Senses 2021; 46:6225237. [PMID: 33893484 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, no method has been developed for rehabilitating olfaction in anosmic patients following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here a method for rehabilitation is described which is based on a recent finding that the human posterior pyriform cortex (PPC) generates predictive odor "search images" in advance of an encounter with an olfactory stimulus. The search image enhances perceptual sensitivity and allows the odor it represents to be identified without input occurring from the olfactory receptors or bulbs. Furthermore, based on the finding here that anosmics with a TBI often have normal trigeminal and gustatory function, it is proposed that normality in these chemosensory systems may indicate that key cortical regions including the PPC are intact in anosmics and capable of processing olfactory information. In addition, the results of chemosensory tests of the olfactory, gustatory, and intranasal trigeminal systems of 18 patients with a TBI are given that identify which patients would most likely benefit from the rehabilitation procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Laing
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Women's and Children's Health, University of NSW Medicine, Level 3, Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Adrienne Epps
- Rehab2Kids, Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Anthony L Jinks
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Kingswood Campus, Second Avenue, NSW 2747, Australia
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14
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Manescu S, Chouinard-Leclaire C, Collignon O, Lepore F, Frasnelli J. Enhanced Odorant Localization Abilities in Congenitally Blind but not in Late-Blind Individuals. Chem Senses 2021; 46:bjaa073. [PMID: 33140091 PMCID: PMC7909301 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjaa073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although often considered a nondominant sense for spatial perception, chemosensory perception can be used to localize the source of an event and potentially help us navigate through our environment. Would blind people who lack the dominant spatial sense-vision-develop enhanced spatial chemosensation or suffer from the lack of visual calibration on spatial chemosensory perception? To investigate this question, we tested odorant localization abilities across nostrils in blind people compared to sighted controls and if the time of vision loss onset modulates those abilities. We observed that congenitally blind individuals (10 subjects) outperformed sighted (20 subjects) and late-blind subjects (10 subjects) in a birhinal localization task using mixed olfactory-trigeminal stimuli. This advantage in congenitally blind people was selective to olfactory localization but not observed for odorant detection or identification. We, therefore, showed that congenital blindness but not blindness acquired late in life is linked to enhanced localization of chemosensory stimuli across nostrils, most probably of the trigeminal component. In addition to previous studies highlighting enhanced localization abilities in auditory and tactile modalities, our current results extend such enhanced abilities to chemosensory localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Manescu
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, CP, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christine Chouinard-Leclaire
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, CP, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Olivier Collignon
- Center of Mind/Brain Sciences of University of Trento, Via Delle Regole, Mattarello, Trentino, Italy
- Institutes for Research in Psychology and Neurosciences, University of Louvain, IPSY - Place du Cardinal Mercier, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Franco Lepore
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, CP, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, CP, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre d’études avancées en médecine du sommeil, Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
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15
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Mignot C, Nahrath P, Sinding C, Hummel T. Older and Young Adults Experience Similar Long-Term Olfactory Habituation. Chem Senses 2020; 46:6043127. [PMID: 33347544 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjaa080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory habituation corresponds to a decreased behavioral or perceptual response to an odor after a prolonged exposure to this odor. Our aim was to investigate whether long-term olfactory habituation and its recovery are similar in young (<35 years old) and older adults (>50). Fifty-seven participants were recruited for a 5-week longitudinal study. They were exposed to one of the two odors (manzanate alpha [MA], irone alpha [IA]) for 2 weeks at home. Olfactory detection thresholds for both odors were measured before and after exposure. Results showed that the two age groups behaved similarly. The long-term exposure to an odor led to a temporary increase of its detection threshold (lower sensitivity to the odor). IA thresholds were more sensitive to the duration of exposure with the odor than MA thresholds. One week after termination of exposure, participants fully recovered and even became more sensitive to both odors. No cross-habituation was found between the two odors. Our findings highlight that long-term habituation is specific to the odor exposed, behaves the same in young and older adults, and is fully reversible in both age groups after 1 week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Mignot
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstrasse, Dresden, Germany
| | - Philipp Nahrath
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstrasse, Dresden, Germany
| | - Charlotte Sinding
- Department French National Institute for Agricultural Research, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (CSGA), Dijon, France
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstrasse, Dresden, Germany
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16
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Zang Y, Hähner A, Negoias S, Lakner T, Hummel T. Apparently Minor Head Trauma Can Lead to Anosmia: A Case Report. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2020; 83:2-6. [PMID: 33176319 DOI: 10.1159/000511442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We report the case of a 49-year-old female patient who suffered from anosmia following an apparently mild head trauma when bumping into a door at her home. She reported no other accompanying symptoms after the injury that day. Olfactory function was completely lost, which was noted the day after the trauma. Gustatory function remained normal. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated lesions/bleeding in the right frontal lobe and in the area of the olfactory sulcus/bulb. The present case indicates that in case of apparently mild head trauma with anosmia, an MRI scan of the head should be performed because of suspect brain damage. This case also points to the deeper question how to gauge severity of head trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Zang
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany,
| | - Antje Hähner
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Simona Negoias
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kantonsspital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Theresa Lakner
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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17
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Karunanayaka PR, Lu J, Yang QX, Sathian K. Olfactory Costimulation Influences Intranasal Somatosensory Perception. Multisens Res 2020; 33:723-736. [PMID: 33706271 DOI: 10.1163/22134808-bja10008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory sensitivity is influenced by intranasal trigeminal sensation. For instance, sniffing is central to how humans and animals perceive odorants. Here, we investigated the influence of olfactory costimulation on the perception of intranasal somatosensory stimulation. In this study, 22 healthy human subjects, with normal olfactory function, performed a localization task for stimulation using weak air puffs, a pure odorant, phenyl ethyl alcohol (PEA; rose odor), or their combination. Visual cues were used to inform participants to briefly hold their breath while weak, poorly localizable, air puffs and/or PEA were delivered to either nostril. Although PEA alone could not be localized to the correct nostril, when it accompanied a weak air puff in the ipsilateral nostril, localization accuracy significantly improved, relative to presentation of the air puff without the odorant. The enhancement of localization was absent when the air puff and PEA were presented to opposite nostrils. Since ipsilateral but not contralateral costimulation with PEA increased the accuracy of weak air puff localization, the results argue against a non-specific alerting effect of PEA. These findings suggest an interaction between olfactory and intranasal somatosensory stimuli leading to their integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna R Karunanayaka
- 1Department of Radiology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,2Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,3Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Jiaming Lu
- 1Department of Radiology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,4Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing X Yang
- 1Department of Radiology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,5Department of Neurosurgery, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - K Sathian
- 2Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,6Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,7Department of Neurology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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18
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Abstract
Human navigation relies on inputs to our paired eyes and ears. Although we also have two nasal passages, there has been little empirical indication that internostril differences yield directionality in human olfaction without involving the trigeminal system. By using optic flow that captures the pattern of apparent motion of surface elements in a visual scene, we demonstrate through formal psychophysical testing that a moderate binaral concentration disparity of a nontrigeminal odorant consistently biases recipients' perceived direction of self-motion toward the higher-concentration side, despite that they cannot verbalize which nostril smells a stronger odor. We further show that the effect depends on the internostril ratio of odor concentrations and not the numeric difference in concentration between the two nostrils. Taken together, our findings provide behavioral evidence that humans smell in stereo and subconsciously utilize stereo olfactory cues in spatial navigation.
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19
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Improving the Assessment of Trigeminal Sensitivity: a Pilot Study. CHEMOSENS PERCEPT 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12078-020-09281-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Lane G, Zhou G, Noto T, Zelano C. Assessment of direct knowledge of the human olfactory system. Exp Neurol 2020; 329:113304. [PMID: 32278646 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Lane
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Guangyu Zhou
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Torben Noto
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Christina Zelano
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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21
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Abstract
People can navigate through an environment using different sensory information, including olfactory cues. Correct intranasal localization and external location of odors can be learned, and some people are able to lateralize olfactory stimuli above chance, which raises the question: What determines the spectrum of olfactory localization abilities. Here, we explored whether odor lateralization and localization abilities are increased in the course of sensory compensation. In a series of studies, we combined two different aspects of odor localization. Study 1 compared abilities of 69 blind people (Mage = 41 ± 1.6 years; 32 females) and 45 sighted controls (Mage = 38.3 ± 2.1 years; 25 females) to correctly lateralize eucalyptol, an odorant with a strong trigeminal component, presented to either nostril. Studies 2 and 3 involved a more ecologically valid task, namely spatial localization of olfactory stimuli. In Study 2, 13 blind individuals (Mage = 28.5 ± 3.5 years; seven females) and 16 sighted controls (Mage = 34.9 ± 3.2 years; ten females) tried to localize a single odorant, while in Study 3, 97 blind individuals (Mage = 43.1 ± .5 years; 48 females) and 47 sighted controls (Mage = 38.7 ± .7 years; 27 females) attempted to localize a single target odor in an experimental olfactory space comprising four different odorants. Blind and sighted subjects did not differ in their abilities to lateralize and to localize odors, and their performance across all tasks suggests that odor lateralization and localization are important for navigation in an environment regardless of visual status.
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22
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Müschenich FS, Sijben R, Gallenmüller F, Singer M, Rodriguez-Raecke R, Di Francesco ME, Wiesmann M, Freiherr J. Eucalyptol Masks the Olfactory But Not the Trigeminal Sensation of Ammonia. Chem Senses 2019; 44:733-741. [PMID: 31541234 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjz065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Eucalyptol is a substance with rather pleasant olfactory and trigeminal characteristics and is thus suggested as an efficient tool for malodor coverage. In this study ammonia would be the malodor substance such as is found in cat litter or hair coloration. We investigated the potential of eucalyptol to inhibit both the olfactory as well as the trigeminal sensation of ammonia. For this purpose, we mixed eucalyptol and ammonia and compared odor component intensities. After being presented with either the pure odors or a binary mixture thereof, 21 young and healthy participants had to lateralize the odors and rate component (eucalyptol and ammonia) and total intensity. Analysis of intensity ratings revealed hypoadditivity (total mixture intensity was less than the sum of the total intensity of the single components). Significant interaction effects verified that mixing eucalyptol and ammonia only affected the perceived intensity of ammonia. Comparing the odor components within the pure and mixed stimuli, the ammonia component was rated as significantly less intense in the mixture compared to pure ammonia whereas the eucalyptol component was rated equal in the pure and mixed condition. On the basis of lateralization scores, we observed trigeminal mixture enhancement. We conclude that eucalyptol is a suitable masking agent to cover the unpleasant smell of ammonia; however, it fails to serve as an ammonia counterirritant because it lacks the ability to mask the trigeminal sensation of ammonia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rik Sijben
- Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Felix Gallenmüller
- Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marco Singer
- Symrise AG, Division Scent and Care, Holzminden, Germany
| | - Rea Rodriguez-Raecke
- Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Martin Wiesmann
- Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jessica Freiherr
- Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Freising, Germany.,Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Erlangen, Germany
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23
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Hucke CI, Pacharra M, Reinders J, van Thriel C. Somatosensory Response to Trigeminal Stimulation: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13771. [PMID: 30213998 PMCID: PMC6137212 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32147-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an optical imaging technique measuring relative hemodynamic changes in superficial cortical structures. It has successfully been applied to detect a hemodynamic response in the somatosensory cortex evoked by irritating mechanical, electrical, and heat stimulations of limbs or the face. The aim of the current study was to explore the feasibility of fNIRS to detect respective responses evoked by irritating chemical stimulations of the nasal divisions of the trigeminal nerve. In two experiments, healthy subjects were exposed to acetic acid and ethyl acetate presented using a respiration-synchronized olfactometer. Results demonstrated that fNIRS can detect a signal in both hemispheres after birhinal (experiment 1: n = 14) and monorhinal (experiment 2: n = 12) stimulations using acetic acid but not ethyl acetate. This is a first evidence that fNIRS might be a suitable imaging technique to assess chemosensory neuronal correlates in the somatosensory cortex thereby offering a new, portable method to evaluate the irritating properties of certain volatiles in an objective, nonverbal, easy, and comparably inexpensive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine I Hucke
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the TU Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Marlene Pacharra
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the TU Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany.,MSH Medical School Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences and Medical University, Am Kaiserkai 1, 20457, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Reinders
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the TU Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christoph van Thriel
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the TU Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
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24
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Patnaik B, Batch A, Elmqvist N. Information Olfactation: Harnessing Scent to Convey Data. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS 2018; 25:726-736. [PMID: 30137003 DOI: 10.1109/tvcg.2018.2865237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory feedback for analytical tasks is a virtually unexplored area in spite of the advantages it offers for information recall, feature identification, and location detection. Here we introduce the concept of information olfactation as the fragrant sibling of information visualization, and discuss how scent can be used to convey data. Building on a review of the human olfactory system and mirroring common visualization practice, we propose olfactory marks, the substrate in which they exist, and their olfactory channels that are available to designers. To exemplify this idea, we present VISCENT: A six-scent stereo olfactory display capable of conveying olfactory glyphs of varying temperature and direction, as well as a corresponding software system that integrates the display with a traditional visualization display. Finally, we present three applications that make use of the viScent system: A 2D graph visualization, a 2D line and point chart, and an immersive analytics graph visualization in 3D virtual reality. We close the paper with a review of possible extensions of viScent and applications of information olfactation for general visualization beyond the examples in this paper.
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25
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Tremblay C, Frasnelli J. Olfactory and Trigeminal Systems Interact in the Periphery. Chem Senses 2018; 43:611-616. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjy049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cécilia Tremblay
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
- Research Center, Sacré-Coeur Hospital of Montreal, 5400 boul. Gouin Ouest, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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26
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Haehner A, Hummel T, Heinritz W, Krueger S, Meinhardt M, Whitcroft KL, Sabatowski R, Gossrau G. Mutation in Nav
1.7 causes high olfactory sensitivity. Eur J Pain 2018; 22:1767-1773. [DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Haehner
- Smell & Taste Clinic; Department of Otorhinolaryngology; TU Dresden; Germany
| | - T. Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic; Department of Otorhinolaryngology; TU Dresden; Germany
| | - W. Heinritz
- ÜBAG for Human Genetics Oberelbe/Spree; Cottbus/Dresden Germany
| | - S. Krueger
- ÜBAG for Human Genetics Oberelbe/Spree; Cottbus/Dresden Germany
| | | | - K. L. Whitcroft
- Smell & Taste Clinic; Department of Otorhinolaryngology; TU Dresden; Germany
- UCL Ear Institute; University College London; UK
- Centre for the Study of the Senses; School of Advanced Study; London UK
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27
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Tremblay C, Durand Martel P, Frasnelli J. Trigeminal system in Parkinson's disease: A potential avenue to detect Parkinson-specific olfactory dysfunction. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2017; 44:85-90. [PMID: 28919173 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is very frequent in Parkinson's disease (PD) and observed years before diagnosis. The trigeminal system, a chemosensory system allowing for the perception of spiciness, freshness, etc., is intimately connected to the olfactory system and although usually reduced in OD the trigeminal system is not well characterized in PD. We hypothesize that measuring trigeminal sensitivity potentially allows to discriminate between OD due to PD and OD due to other causes to potentially help the development of an early diagnostic tool. OBJECTIVE To evaluate olfactory and trigeminal sensitivity and perception in PD patients and compare them to participants with non-parkinsonian OD (NPOD) and to healthy controls. METHODS We assessed olfactory function using "Sniffin' Sticks test" and trigeminal function with the localization task in 28 PD patients, 27 healthy controls and 21 patients with OD unrelated to PD. RESULTS PD patients exhibited significantly higher trigeminal sensitivity than NPOD patients (p = 0.002) and performed similar to healthy controls. In contrast, PD and NPOD patients had both similar olfactory scores, significantly below healthy controls. CONCLUSION The trigeminal system seems not to be impaired in PD patients even in the presence of OD. Measuring trigeminal sensitivity may therefore allow to differentiate PD-related OD from other forms of OD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécilia Tremblay
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, G9A 5H7, Québec, Canada.
| | - Pascali Durand Martel
- Department of Neurology, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec (CIUSSS-MCQ), 1991 Boulevard du Carmel, Trois-Rivières, G8Z 3R9, Québec, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, G9A 5H7, Québec, Canada; Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, 5400 Boulevard Gouin Ouest, Montréal, H4J 1C5, Québec, Canada.
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Konstantinidis I, Tsakiropoulou E, Chatziavramidis A, Ikonomidis C, Markou K. Intranasal trigeminal function in patients with empty nose syndrome. Laryngoscope 2017; 127:1263-1267. [PMID: 28224626 DOI: 10.1002/lary.26491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Trigeminal nerve mediates the perception of nasal airflow. This study examines whether impaired intranasal trigeminal function is a part of the paradoxical nasal obstruction sensation in patients with empty nose syndrome (ENS). STUDY DESIGN Prospective case-control study in a tertiary hospital. METHODS Three groups were examined: 1) ENS patients with previous bilateral near total inferior turbinectomy, 2) patients who underwent near total inferior turbinate removal (ITR) without ENS symptoms, and 3) control participants. All participants examined with active anterior rhinomanometry, olfactory testing (extended Sniffin' Sticks test), and trigeminal testing (lateralization task using menthol and odorless solvent). RESULTS Seventy-one participants were included (21 ENS patients, 18 ITR patients, and 31 controls). Analyses revealed that ENS patients had significantly lower scores on trigeminal lateralization testing than the ITR group and controls. The ENS group had also significantly lower scores in olfactory testing than controls. No statistical differences were found in rhinomanometry between groups. The gender factor was not associated with the chemosensory testing; however, this was not the case with the age factor, as trigeminal test results were negatively correlated. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates significantly impaired intranasal trigeminal function in ENS patients when compared with ITR patients and controls. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of preoperative trigeminal function of these patients and the contribution of surgery to this impairment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3b. Laryngoscope, 127:1263-1267, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iordanis Konstantinidis
- Rhinology Clinic, 2nd Academic Otorhinolaryngology Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Tsakiropoulou
- Rhinology Clinic, 2nd Academic Otorhinolaryngology Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos Chatziavramidis
- Rhinology Clinic, 2nd Academic Otorhinolaryngology Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos Ikonomidis
- Otorhinolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Konstantinos Markou
- Rhinology Clinic, 2nd Academic Otorhinolaryngology Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Manescu S, Daniel B, Filiou RP, Lepore F, Frasnelli J. Nostril Advantage in Trigeminal/Olfactory Perception and Its Relation to Handedness. Perception 2016; 46:377-392. [PMID: 27864554 DOI: 10.1177/0301006616680375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Few studies investigated nostril-advantage in chemosensory perception, particularly, in relation to handedness. The aim of the present article was therefore to assess whether trigeminal/olfactory perception is altered by handedness. Methods We tested 50 (all right-handed) and 43 (22 left-handed) participants in Studies 1 and 2, respectively. We used binary mixtures of cinnamaldehyde and eucalyptol, in different proportions presented as physical mixtures (the same exact mixture presented birhinally to each nostril) or as a dichorhinic mixtures (different mixtures presented to each nostril). Presenting dichorhinic mixtures allowed us to assess nostril dominance based on participants' report on whether the mixture smelled more like cinnamon or eucalyptus. Participants also evaluated whether the stimuli were "painful," "warm," "cold," and "intense" on visual scales. Results In Study 1, we find that in right handers, stimuli presented to the right nostril dominated over those presented to the left nostril. These stimuli were also rated as more "painful" and "intense." In Study 2, we could not corroborate the findings in the right-handed individuals, and we found limited support for a nostril advantage left-handed individuals. Conclusion Although our data points toward a certain nostril advantage in chemosensory perception, the finding is not systematic, we discuss possible underlying factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Manescu
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition (CERNEC), Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - Benjhyna Daniel
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition (CERNEC), Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - Renée-Pier Filiou
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition (CERNEC), Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - Franco Lepore
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition (CERNEC), Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada.,Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Canada
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Stadlbauer A, Kaltenhäuser M, Buchfelder M, Brandner S, Neuhuber WL, Renner B. Spatiotemporal Pattern of Human Cortical and Subcortical Activity during Early-Stage Odor Processing. Chem Senses 2016; 41:783-794. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjw074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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31
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Saliba J, Fnais N, Tomaszewski M, Carriere JS, Frenkiel S, Frasnelli J, Tewfik MA. The role of trigeminal function in the sensation of nasal obstruction in chronic rhinosinusitis. Laryngoscope 2016; 126:E174-8. [DOI: 10.1002/lary.25952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joe Saliba
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; McGill University; Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Naif Fnais
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; McGill University; Montreal Quebec Canada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; King Saud University; Riyadh Saudi Arabia
| | - Marcel Tomaszewski
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; McGill University; Montreal Quebec Canada
| | | | - Saul Frenkiel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; McGill University; Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Research Chair for Chemosensory Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy; University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières; Trois-Rivières Quebec Canada
- Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine; Sacré-Coeur Hospital; Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Marc A. Tewfik
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; McGill University; Montreal Quebec Canada
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Conscious olfaction: Content, function, and localization. Behav Brain Sci 2016; 39:e188. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x15002186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe target article's emphasis on olfaction is a welcome reminder of the multimodal nature of conscious experience. Here, I explore the distinctive and even unique attributes of our sense of smell from the point of view of their bearing on and fit with a subcortical locus of sensory experience.
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Kollndorfer K, Kowalczyk K, Frasnelli J, Hoche E, Unger E, Mueller CA, Krajnik J, Trattnig S, Schöpf V. Same same but different. Different trigeminal chemoreceptors share the same central pathway. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121091. [PMID: 25775237 PMCID: PMC4361644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intranasal trigeminal sensations are important in everyday life of human beings, as they play a governing role in protecting the airways from harm. Trigeminal sensations arise from the binding of a ligand to various sub-types of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels located on mucosal branches of the trigeminal nerve. Which underlying neural networks are involved in the processing of various trigeminal inputs is still unknown. To target this unresolved question fourteen healthy human subjects were investigated by completing three functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning sessions during which three trigeminal substances, activating varying sub-types of chemoreceptors and evoking different sensations in the nose were presented: CO2, menthol and cinnamaldehyde. We identified similar functional networks responding to all stimuli: an olfactory network, a somatosensory network and an integrative network. The processing pathway of all three stimulants was represented by the same functional networks, although CO2 evokes painful but virtually odorless sensations, and the two other stimulants, menthol and cinnamaldehyde are perceived as mostly non painful with a clear olfactory percept. Therefore, our results suggest a common central processing pathway for trigeminal information regardless of the trigeminal chemoreceptor and sensation type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Kollndorfer
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ksenia Kowalczyk
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Hôpital du Sacre Coeur de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Hoche
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ewald Unger
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian A. Mueller
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jacqueline Krajnik
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Siegfried Trattnig
- High Field MR Center, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Schöpf
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Croy I, Schulz M, Blumrich A, Hummel C, Gerber J, Hummel T. Human olfactory lateralization requires trigeminal activation. Neuroimage 2014; 98:289-95. [PMID: 24825502 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rats are able to lateralize odors. This ability involves specialized neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex which are able to process the left, right and bilateral presentation of stimuli. However, it is not clear whether this function is preserved in humans. Humans are in general not able to differentiate whether a selective olfactory stimulant has been applied to the left or right nostril; however exceptions have been reported. Following a screening of 152 individuals with an olfactory lateralization test, we identified 19 who could lateralize odors above chance level. 15 of these "lateralizers" underwent olfactory fMRI scanning in a block design and were compared to 15 controls matched for age and sex distribution. As a result, both groups showed comparable activation of olfactory eloquent brain areas. However, subjects with lateralization ability had a significantly enhanced activation of cerebral trigeminal processing areas (somatosensory cortex, intraparietal sulcus). In contrast to controls, lateralizers furthermore exhibited no suppression in the area of the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus. An exploratory study with an olfactory change detection paradigm furthermore showed that lateralizers oriented faster towards changes in the olfactory environment. Taken together, our study suggests that the trigeminal system is activated to a higher degree by the odorous stimuli in the group of "lateralizers". We conclude that humans are not able to lateralize odors based on the olfactory input alone, but vary in the degree to which the trigeminal system is recruited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Croy
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Blå Stråket 5, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Max Schulz
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Blumrich
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Cornelia Hummel
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Gerber
- University of Dresden Medical School, Department of Neuroradiology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Hummel
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Demattè ML, Endrizzi I, Gasperi F. Food neophobia and its relation with olfaction. Front Psychol 2014; 5:127. [PMID: 24596565 PMCID: PMC3925843 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Food neophobia, that is the reluctance to try novel foods, is an attitude that dramatically affects human feeding behavior in many different aspects among which food preferences and food choices appear to be the most thoroughly considered. This attitude has an important evolutionary meaning since it protects the individual from ingesting potentially dangerous substances. On the other hand, it fosters an avoidance behavior that can extend even toward useful food elements. A strong link exists between food neophobia and both the variety in one person’s diet and previous exposures to different foods. In this review, the more recent findings about food neophobia will be concisely described. Given the suggested connection between the exposure to different foods and food neophobia, this review will focus on the relation between this attitude and human chemosensory abilities. Olfaction, in particular, is a sensory modality that has a central role in flavor perception and in food preference acquisition. Therefore, the latest evidences about its relation with food neophobia will be discussed along with the applied and cognitive implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Luisa Demattè
- Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige Italy
| | - Isabella Endrizzi
- Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige Italy
| | - Flavia Gasperi
- Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige Italy
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36
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Köster EP, Møller P, Mojet J. A "Misfit" Theory of Spontaneous Conscious Odor Perception (MITSCOP): reflections on the role and function of odor memory in everyday life. Front Psychol 2014; 5:64. [PMID: 24575059 PMCID: PMC3920064 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Our senses have developed as an answer to the world we live in (Gibson, 1966) and so have the forms of memory that accompany them. All senses serve different purposes and do so in different ways. In vision, where orientation and object recognition are important, memory is strongly linked to identification. In olfaction, the guardian of vital functions such as breathing and food ingestion, perhaps the most important (and least noticed and researched) role of odor memory is to help us not to notice the well-known odors or flavors in our everyday surroundings, but to react immediately to the unexpected ones. At the same time it provides us with a feeling of safety when our expectancies are met. All this happens without any smelling intention or conscious knowledge of our expectations. Identification by odor naming is not involved in this and people are notoriously bad at it. Odors are usually best identified via the episodic memory of the situation in which they once occurred. Spontaneous conscious odor perception normally only occurs in situations where attention is demanded, either because the inhaled air or the food smell is particularly good or particularly bad and people search for its source or because people want to actively enjoy the healthiness and pleasantness of their surroundings or food. Odor memory is concerned with novelty detection rather than with recollection of odors. In this paper, these points are illustrated with experimental results and their consequences for doing ecologically valid odor memory research are drawn. Furthermore, suggestions for ecologically valid research on everyday odor memory and some illustrative examples are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egon P. Köster
- Psychological Laboratory, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Per Møller
- Department of Food Science, University of CopenhagenFrederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jozina Mojet
- Wageningen – UR, Food and Biobased ResearchWageningen, Netherlands
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37
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Keller A. The evolutionary function of conscious information processing is revealed by its task-dependency in the olfactory system. Front Psychol 2014; 5:62. [PMID: 24550876 PMCID: PMC3913989 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although many responses to odorous stimuli are mediated without olfactory information being consciously processed, some olfactory behaviors require conscious information processing. I will here contrast situations in which olfactory information is processed consciously to situations in which it is processed non-consciously. This contrastive analysis reveals that conscious information processing is required when an organism is faced with tasks in which there are many behavioral options available. I therefore propose that it is the evolutionary function of conscious information processing to guide behaviors in situations in which the organism has to choose between many possible responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Keller
- Philosophy Program, Graduate Center, The City University of New York New York, NY, USA
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38
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Young BD, Keller A, Rosenthal D. Quality-space theory in olfaction. Front Psychol 2014; 5:1. [PMID: 24474945 PMCID: PMC3893576 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Quality-space theory (QST) explains the nature of the mental qualities distinctive of perceptual states by appeal to their role in perceiving. QST is typically described in terms of the mental qualities that pertain to color. Here we apply QST to the olfactory modalities. Olfaction is in various respects more complex than vision, and so provides a useful test case for QST. To determine whether QST can deal with the challenges olfaction presents, we show how a quality space (QS) could be constructed relying on olfactory perceptible properties and the olfactory mental qualities then defined by appeal to that QS of olfactory perceptible properties. We also consider how to delimit the olfactory QS from other modalities. We further apply QST to the role that experience plays in refining our olfactory discriminative abilities and the occurrence of olfactory mental qualities in non-conscious olfactory states. QST is shown to be fully applicable to and useful for understanding the complex domain of olfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Young
- The Department of Cognitive and Brain Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Andreas Keller
- Philosophy Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
| | - David Rosenthal
- Philosophy Program and Concentration in Cognitive Science, Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
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Leopold DA, Hornung DE. Olfactory cocainization is not an effective long-term treatment for phantosmia. Chem Senses 2013; 38:803-6. [PMID: 24122320 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjt047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phantosmia, the perception of an odor when there are no odorants in the environment, can be a very debilitating symptom. In the 1960s, Zilstorff reported olfactory distortions could be treated by the topical application of a cocaine solution to the olfactory epithelium. In evaluating this treatment, we observed no long-term benefit using cocaine on 6 patients with phantosmia. Based on our observations, the patient's olfactory ability was not a determining factor in the initiation or quality of their phantosmia. Following topical cocainization, we observed a remarkable delay of hours to days in the return of olfactory ability, and when cocaine was applied to only 1 nostril, there was a decreased olfactory ability on the noncocainized side. These results may suggest the possibility that phantosmia is related to a central processing problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A Leopold
- Department of Surgery ENT division, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
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40
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Lübbert M, Kyereme J, Rothermel M, Wetzel CH, Hoffmann KP, Hatt H. In vivo monitoring of chemically evoked activity patterns in the rat trigeminal ganglion. Front Syst Neurosci 2013; 7:64. [PMID: 24115922 PMCID: PMC3792369 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2013.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Albeit lacking a sense of smell, anosmic patients maintain a reduced ability to distinguish different volatile chemicals by relying exclusively on their trigeminal system (TS). To elucidate differences in the neuronal representation of these volatile substances in the TS, we performed voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) in the rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) in vivo. We demonstrated that stimulus-specific patterns of bioelectrical activity occur within the TG upon nasal administration of ten different volatile chemicals. With regard to spatial differences between the evoked trigeminal response patterns, these substances could be sorted into three groups. Signal intensity and onset latencies were also dependent on the administered stimulus and its concentration. We conclude that particular compounds detected by the TS are represented by (1) a specific spatial response pattern, (2) the signal intensity, and (3) onset latencies within the pattern. Jointly, these trigeminal representations may contribute to the surprisingly high discriminative skills of anosmic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Lübbert
- Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum Bochum, Germany
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41
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Demattè ML, Endrizzi I, Biasioli F, Corollaro ML, Pojer N, Zampini M, Aprea E, Gasperi F. Food neophobia and its relation with olfactory ability in common odour identification. Appetite 2013; 68:112-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Revised: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Abstract
Chemicals selectively stimulating the olfactory nerve typically cannot be localized in a lateralization task. Purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ability of subjects to localize an olfactory stimulus delivered passively to 1 of the 2 nostrils would improve under training. Fifty-two young, normosmic women divided in 2 groups participated. One group performed olfactory lateralization training, whereas the other group performed cognitive tasks. Results showed that only subjects performing lateralization training significantly improved in their ability to lateralize olfactory stimuli compared with subjects who did not undergo such training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Negoias
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Smell and Taste, University of Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany.
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Catania KC. Stereo and serial sniffing guide navigation to an odour source in a mammal. Nat Commun 2013; 4:1441. [PMID: 23385586 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Integration of bilateral sensory information is fundamental to stimulus localization in auditory systems and depth perception in vision, but the role of stereo olfactory cues remains obscure. Here it is shown that blind, eastern American moles combine serial sampling with bilateral nasal cues to localize odorants. Blocking one nostril causes moles to err in the direction of the open nostril with strongest effect within 4-5 cm of the stimulus. Nostril block does not severely disrupt more distant navigation towards odorants in a T-maze nor prevent animals from ultimately locating the odour source. Crossing inputs to the nostrils using plastic tubes causes a local repulsion from the stimulus, whereas uncrossed tubes do not disrupt localization. These findings show that mammals can make use of bilateral chemosensory cues combined with serial sampling to localize odorants and offer insights into the relative contribution of each strategy during different stages of natural search behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth C Catania
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B, Box 35-1634, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1634, USA.
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44
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Kéïta L, Frasnelli J, La Buissonnière-Ariza V, Lepore F. Response times and response accuracy for odor localization and identification. Neuroscience 2013; 238:82-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2012] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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45
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Frasnelli J, Lundström JN, Schöpf V, Negoias S, Hummel T, Lepore F. Dual processing streams in chemosensory perception. Front Hum Neurosci 2012; 6:288. [PMID: 23091456 PMCID: PMC3476497 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher order sensory processing follows a general subdivision into a ventral and a dorsal stream for visual, auditory, and tactile information. Object identification is processed in temporal structures (ventral stream), whereas object localization leads to activation of parietal structures (dorsal stream). To examine whether the chemical senses demonstrate a similar dissociation, we investigated odor identification and odor localization in 16 healthy young subjects using functional MRI. We used two odors—(1) eucalyptol; (2) a mixture of phenylethanol and carbon dioxide)—which were delivered to only one nostril. During odor identification subjects had to recognize the odor; during odor localization they had to detect the stimulated nostril. We used general linear model (GLM) as a classical method as well as independent component analysis (ICA) in order to investigate a possible neuroanatomical dissociation between both tasks. Both methods showed differences between tasks—confirming a dual processing stream in the chemical senses—but revealed complementary results. Specifically, GLM identified the left intraparietal sulcus and the right superior frontal sulcus to be more activated when subjects were localizing the odorants. For the same task, ICA identified a significant cluster in the left parietal lobe (paracentral lobule) but also in the right hippocampus. While GLM did not find significant activations for odor identification, ICA revealed two clusters (in the left central fissure and the left superior frontal gyrus) for this task. These data demonstrate that higher order chemosensory processing shares the general subdivision into a ventral and a dorsal processing stream with other sensory systems and suggest that this is a global principle, independent of sensory channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Frasnelli
- Centre de Recherche en Neuropsychologie et Cognition, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada ; Department of ENT-Medicine, Technical University of Dresden Dresden, Germany
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Interactions between behaviorally relevant rhythms and synaptic plasticity alter coding in the piriform cortex. J Neurosci 2012; 32:6092-104. [PMID: 22553016 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.6285-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how neural and behavioral timescales interact to influence cortical activity and stimulus coding is an important issue in sensory neuroscience. In air-breathing animals, voluntary changes in respiratory frequency alter the temporal patterning olfactory input. In the olfactory bulb, these behavioral timescales are reflected in the temporal properties of mitral/tufted (M/T) cell spike trains. As the odor information contained in these spike trains is relayed from the bulb to the cortex, interactions between presynaptic spike timing and short-term synaptic plasticity dictate how stimulus features are represented in cortical spike trains. Here, we demonstrate how the timescales associated with respiratory frequency, spike timing, and short-term synaptic plasticity interact to shape cortical responses. Specifically, we quantified the timescales of short-term synaptic facilitation and depression at excitatory synapses between bulbar M/T cells and cortical neurons in slices of mouse olfactory cortex. We then used these results to generate simulated M/T population synaptic currents that were injected into real cortical neurons. M/T population inputs were modulated at frequencies consistent with passive respiration or active sniffing. We show how the differential recruitment of short-term plasticity at breathing versus sniffing frequencies alters cortical spike responses. For inputs at sniffing frequencies, cortical neurons linearly encoded increases in presynaptic firing rates with increased phase-locked, firing rates. In contrast, at passive breathing frequencies, cortical responses saturated with changes in presynaptic rate. Our results suggest that changes in respiratory behavior can gate the transfer of stimulus information between the olfactory bulb and cortex.
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Malaspina D, Goetz R, Keller A, Messinger JW, Bruder G, Goetz D, Opler M, Harlap S, Harkavy–Friedman J, Antonius D. Olfactory processing, sex effects and heterogeneity in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2012; 135:144-51. [PMID: 22177347 PMCID: PMC3288877 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Smell identification deficits are associated with negative symptoms in schizophrenia, particularly in males. Far less information is known about the relationship of odor detection sensitivity (acuity) and negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and currently there is a dearth in sex-stratified research specifically examining odor sensitivity and smell identification. METHODS Fifty-eight individuals with schizophrenia and 42 healthy comparison subjects were assessed on tests of odor sensitivity, smell identification and cognition. Negative symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. RESULTS In healthy males, increased odor detection sensitivity predicted better smell identification scores. In contrast, male schizophrenia patients showed a significant inverse relationship, in which increased odor sensitivity predicted lower smell identification scores. Odor sensitivity and smell identification were unrelated in both schizophrenia and healthy females. Olfactory processing was strongly linked to negative symptoms, but the relationships differed by sex. Emotional expression deficits were related to odor detection hypersensitivity in female patients, whereas smell identification deficits predicted these emotional deficits in male cases. CONCLUSION Sex differences in olfactory functioning were identified in healthy subjects and in schizophrenia patients. Smell identification was related to negative symptoms in males with schizophrenia, whereas odor detection sensitivity predicted these features in females. Sex differences should be considered in future analyses that employ odor stimuli for neuropsychiatric research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Malaspina
- New York University School of Medicine, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Raymond Goetz
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA,New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Andreas Keller
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA,The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Julie W Messinger
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Gerard Bruder
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Deborah Goetz
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Mark Opler
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Susan Harlap
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | - Daniel Antonius
- New York University School of Medicine; Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives (InSPIRES), 500 1st Avenue, NBV 22N10, New York, NY 10016, USA,University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
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Wise PM, Wysocki CJ, Lundström JN. Stimulus selection for intranasal sensory isolation: eugenol is an irritant. Chem Senses 2012; 37:509-14. [PMID: 22293937 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjs002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Both the olfactory and the trigeminal systems are able to respond to intranasal presentations of chemical vapor. Accordingly, when the nose detects a volatile chemical, it is often unclear whether we smell it, feel it, or both. The distinction may often be unimportant in our everyday perception of fragrances or aromas, but it can matter in experiments that purport to isolate olfactory processes or study the interaction between olfaction and chemesthesis. Researchers turn to a small pool of compounds that are believed to be "pure olfactory" stimuli with little or no trigeminal impact. The current report reexamines one such commonly used compound, namely eugenol, a flavor and fragrance ingredient that has anesthetic properties under some conditions. Using a standard method involving many trials during an experimental session (Experiment 1), subjects were unable to reliably lateralize eugenol, consistent with claims that this compound is detected primarily through olfaction. However, with more limited exposure (Experiments 2 and 3), subjects were able to lateralize eugenol. We speculate that anesthetic properties of eugenol could blunt its trigeminal impact in some paradigms. Regardless, the current experiments suggest that eugenol can in fact stimulate the trigeminal nerve but in a complex concentration-dependent manner. Implications and strategies for selection of model odorants are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Wise
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Moessnang C, Finkelmeyer A, Vossen A, Schneider F, Habel U. Assessing implicit odor localization in humans using a cross-modal spatial cueing paradigm. PLoS One 2011; 6:e29614. [PMID: 22216331 PMCID: PMC3246472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Navigation based on chemosensory information is one of the most important skills in the animal kingdom. Studies on odor localization suggest that humans have lost this ability. However, the experimental approaches used so far were limited to explicit judgements, which might ignore a residual ability for directional smelling on an implicit level without conscious appraisal. Methods A novel cueing paradigm was developed in order to determine whether an implicit ability for directional smelling exists. Participants performed a visual two-alternative forced choice task in which the target was preceded either by a side-congruent or a side-incongruent olfactory spatial cue. An explicit odor localization task was implemented in a second experiment. Results No effect of cue congruency on mean reaction times could be found. However, a time by condition interaction emerged, with significantly slower responses to congruently compared to incongruently cued targets at the beginning of the experiment. This cueing effect gradually disappeared throughout the course of the experiment. In addition, participants performed at chance level in the explicit odor localization task, thus confirming the results of previous research. Conclusion The implicit cueing task suggests the existence of spatial information processing in the olfactory system. Response slowing after a side-congruent olfactory cue is interpreted as a cross-modal attentional interference effect. In addition, habituation might have led to a gradual disappearance of the cueing effect. It is concluded that under immobile conditions with passive monorhinal stimulation, humans are unable to explicitly determine the location of a pure odorant. Implicitly, however, odor localization seems to exert an influence on human behaviour. To our knowledge, these data are the first to show implicit effects of odor localization on overt human behaviour and thus support the hypothesis of residual directional smelling in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Moessnang
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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Abstract
Understanding the relation between attention and consciousness is an important part of our understanding of consciousness. Attention, unlike consciousness, can be systematically manipulated in psychophysical experiments and a law-like relation between attention and consciousness is waiting to be discovered. Most attempts to discover the nature of this relation are focused on a special type of attention: spatial visual attention. In this review I want to introduce another type of attention to the discussion: attention to the olfactory modality. I will first clarify the position of attention to smells in a general taxonomy of attention. I will then review the mechanisms and neuroanatomy of attention and consciousness in the olfactory system before using the newly introduced system to provide evidence that attention is necessary for consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Keller
- Department of Philosophy, Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
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