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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
Brief evaluation of pleasantness of olfactory and trigeminal stimulants
Jan Vodicka1, Milan Meloun, Lucie Príhodová
1Faculty of Health Studies, Pardubice, Czech Republic. jan_vodicka@hotmail.com
Objective:
To evaluate a brief olfactory test based on pleasantness rating of olfactory and trigeminal stimulants.
Design:
Criterion standard.
Setting:
University hospital.
Participants:
A total of 60 participants (48 healthy and 12 with olfactory loss) aged 16 to 81 years.
Interventions:
The new test of odor pleasantness (TOP) based on classification of odorants and trigeminal stimulants into 4 categories was compared with 2 standard tests of subjective olfactometry.
Main Outcome Measure:
We evaluated the possible use of the TOP in assessment of olfactory and the trigeminal system in healthy individuals and those with olfactory loss.
Results:
All 3 tests demonstrated significant mutual correlation (P < .01), and persons with olfactory loss scored lower than healthy participants (P < .01). Using exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis, we found that healthy individuals classified odorants accurately according to the degree of their hedonic character.
Conclusion:
The TOP offers outcomes similar to those of standard tests of olfaction that are based on psychophysical testing.
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