Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2025

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
Functional magnetic resonance imaging in coronavirus disease 2019 induced olfactory dysfunction
Kamyar Iravani1, Behzad Malekpour1, Alireza Rasekhi2
1Otolaryngology Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Objective:
To evaluate the functional magnetic resonance imaging changes in the olfactory structures of coronavirus disease 2019 patients experiencing olfactory dysfunction.
Methods:
This study included patients aged 25-65 years who presented with a sudden loss of smell, confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 infection, and persistent olfactory dysfunction for a minimum of 2 months without any treatment.
Results:
Irrespective of the side of brain activation, the analysis of the cumulative maximum diameter of the activation zones revealed significantly lower activation in the upper frontal lobe (p = 0.037) and basal ganglia (p = 0.023) in olfactory dysfunction patients. Irrespective of the side of activation, the analysis of the number of activation points demonstrated significantly lower activation in the upper frontal lobe (p = 0.036) and basal ganglia (p = 0.009) in olfactory dysfunction patients.
Conclusion:
Patients with coronavirus-triggered olfactory dysfunction exhibited lower activity in their basal ganglia and upper frontal lobe.
Related Concept Videos
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
Olfaction
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
The olfactory...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging

