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Olfactory system activation from sniffing: effects in piriform and orbitofrontal cortex.

David A Kareken1, Merav Sabri, Alexander J Radnovich

  • 1Department of Neurology, Neuropsychology Section (RI 1773), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. dkareken@iupui.edu

Neuroimage
|April 28, 2004
PubMed
Summary

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Sniffing odorless air does not activate the piriform cortex (PC+). However, odorant exposure during sniffing or velopharyngeal closure (VPC) strongly evokes PC+ activity, suggesting sniffing aids higher-order odor analysis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Previous neuroimaging studies suggest piriform cortex (PC+) activation during sniffing.
  • The role of sniffing in olfactory processing, independent of odorants, remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural correlates of sniffing and odorant perception.
  • To differentiate the effects of sniffing versus odorant stimulation on brain activity.

Main Methods:

  • H(2)(15)O positron emission tomography (PET) in 15 healthy volunteers.
  • Four conditions: sniffing odorants, sniffing odorless air, odorless air with velopharyngeal closure (VPC), and odorized air with VPC.
  • VPC technique to control airflow and isolate sniffing effects.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Sniffing odorless air did not significantly activate PC+ compared to odorless VPC.
  • A small correlation was found between PC+ activity during odorless sniffing/VPC and nasal pressure.
  • Odorant exposure during sniffing and VPC strongly activated PC+ and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).
  • Odorant stimulation with VPC did not activate OFC, whereas odorant sniffing did.

Conclusions:

  • Sniffing alone, without odorants, does not significantly activate the piriform cortex.
  • Sniffing plays a crucial role in facilitating higher-order olfactory analysis.
  • The right orbitofrontal cortex may be involved in guided olfactory exploration during sniffing.