The Pitfalls and Perspectives of Assessing Olfactory Function via Optical Brain Imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Olfactory function is vital for daily activities and can indicate early signs of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
• Accurate olfactory performance measurement is crucial for disease diagnosis and treatment.
• Conventional methods exist, but optical brain imaging offers a novel approach.

Approach:

• A systematic review of optical brain imaging, specifically functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), for olfactory function evaluation.
• Literature search conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect).
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies evaluating olfactory stimulation and brain response, excluding specific study types.

Key Points:

• Seven studies were reviewed, focusing on the application of optical brain imaging in olfactory assessment.
• The review discusses current limitations and future potential of optical brain imaging techniques.
• Hemodynamic changes observed via optical imaging can be interpreted to evaluate olfactory performance.

Conclusions:

• Optical brain imaging shows promise for evaluating olfactory performance in healthy individuals.
• Standardization of optical imaging techniques is necessary for broader clinical applicability.
• Further research is required to refine and validate these methods for diagnostic purposes.