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Automated assessment of intranasal trigeminal function
T Hummel1, C Kaehling1, F Grosse1
1Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Germany.
Rhinology
|March 13, 2016
Summary
A new automated device reliably measures intranasal trigeminal function by assessing CO2 pain responsiveness. This function is linked to olfaction, age, and sex, and is reduced in individuals with olfactory loss.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Science
Background:
- The intranasal trigeminal system, crucial for airflow perception, lacks efficient investigation methods.
- This system may detect stimulus mass rather than solely concentration, with duration changes mimicking concentration shifts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a new automated method for assessing intranasal trigeminal system function.
- To investigate the relationship between CO2 pain responsiveness and olfactory function, age, and sex.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-nine healthy subjects and 50 patients with olfactory loss were tested.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) stimuli of varying durations were presented, with participants indicating pain threshold.
- An automated device assessed CO2 pain responsiveness based on stimulus duration.
Main Results:
- The automated device provided reliable measurements of CO2 pain responsiveness.
- CO2 pain responsiveness correlated with olfactory function, showing higher sensitivity in women and decreasing with age.
- Patients with olfactory loss exhibited lower CO2 pain responsiveness than controls, independent of age.
Conclusions:
- The developed automated approach is a reliable and valid tool for measuring intranasal trigeminal function.
- Intranasal trigeminal sensitivity is influenced by olfaction, age, and sex, offering new insights into sensory perception.
