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Updated: May 23, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
Objective assessment of olfactory function using functional magnetic resonance imaging
Adolfo Toledano1, Susana Borromeo, Guillermo Luna
1Consulta de Olfato, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. atoledano@fhalcorcon.es
Objective:
To show the results of a device that generates automated olfactory stimuli suitable for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments.
Material And Methods:
Ten normal volunteers, 5 women and 5 men, were studied. The system allows the programming of several sequences, providing the capability to synchronise the onset of odour presentation with acquisition by a trigger signal of the MRI scanner. The olfactometer is a device that allows selection of the odour, the event paradigm, the time of stimuli and the odour concentration. The paradigm used during fMRI scanning consisted of 15-s blocks. The odorant event took 2s with butanol, mint and coffee.
Results:
We observed olfactory activity in the olfactory bulb, entorhinal cortex (4%), amygdala (2.5%) and temporo-parietal cortex, especially in the areas related to emotional integration.
Conclusions:
The device has demonstrated its effectiveness in stimulating olfactory areas and its capacity to adapt to fMRI equipment.
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