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Functional neuroimaging of odor imagery
J Djordjevic1, R J Zatorre, M Petrides
1Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. jelena.djordjevic@mail.mcgill.ca
Neuroimage
|January 18, 2005
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals that imagining odors activates specific brain regions, including the olfactory cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. These findings suggest partial overlap between brain networks for odor perception and imagery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory research
Background:
- Understanding the neural basis of sensory imagery is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
- Odor imagery, the mental simulation of smells, has been less explored neurobiologically compared to other senses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the brain regions involved in odor imagery using neuroimaging techniques.
- To compare brain activity during odor imagery with odor perception and olfactory expectation.
Main Methods:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) was employed to measure regional cerebral blood flow (CBF).
- Participants included 12 healthy individuals identified as "good odor imagers" based on prior screening.
- Brain activity was assessed during odor imagery, olfactory expectation, and odor perception.
Main Results:
- Odor imagery was associated with increased activation in the left primary olfactory cortex (POC), including the piriform cortex.
- Activation was also observed in the left secondary olfactory cortex (posterior orbitofrontal cortex - OFC) and bilateral rostral insula.
- Blood flow in specific right orbitofrontal cortex regions correlated with behavioral measures of odor imagery.
Conclusions:
- Neural networks engaged during odor perception and imagery show partial overlap.
- The study identifies key brain regions, including olfactory cortical areas and the orbitofrontal cortex, supporting odor imagery.