Testing olfactory function and mapping the structural olfactory networks in the brain.

This study was conducted in order to emphasize the need for a meticulous approach when conducting validation stud-ies of olfactory tests, especially the need for revalidation after a modification process.
 Another focus has been on investigating the differences between olfactory identification abilities in adolescents relative to adults. Previous international studies have shown that the identification skills of adolescents are significantly different from their adult compatriots. Earlier validation studies on adolescents have used the adult version of odorant descriptors as the starting point. In our study we examine the role of odour familiarity in the difference between adult and adolescent identification abilities.
 The main focus of this PhD has been to develop a method for evaluating central olfactory patency and processing, where indi-vidual preferences and sensitivity to specific odours could be removed from the equation, as these parameters has proven trou-blesome in functional neuroimaging of the olfactory system. We identified that a reference area for investigating primary olfactory processing in neuroimaging included several non-primary struc-tures and lacked the structural neural connections to key secondary olfactory areas. Consequently, we redefined the template for olfac-tory processing by combining findings from anatomical and func-tional neuroimaging studies. This has led to the creation of a struc-tural olfactory fingerprint, which is already integrate...
Source: Danish Medical Journal - Category: General Medicine Tags: Dan Med J Source Type: research