Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
Controlled Odor Mimic Permeation Systems for Olfactory Training and Field Testing
Published on: January 28, 2021
Psychological Validation of a Standardized Odor Set for Olfactory Training
Naomi Gotow1, Takanobu Omata2, Satomi Kunieda3
1Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan.
Introduction:
Olfactory training is often used to recover function for olfactory disorders.
Methods:
This study constructed two models incorporating three psychological dimensions (intensity, familiarity, and pleasantness) to psychologically validate the appropriateness of a standardized odor set (i.e., using the same odors for every patient): an average model using mean evaluation values and an individual model using individual evaluation values. We conducted an experiment in which 173 healthy participants evaluated the psychological dimensions of 32 everyday Japanese odors and then conducted principal component analysis using these psychological dimensions as observed variables to derive the score of the principal component with positive loadings of familiarity and pleasantness for each model as a composite indicator called the "good smell index" (GSI).
Results:
The odor rankings between average and individual models show a significant strong correlation.
Conclusion:
The result suggests that the average model reflects individual odor perception, supporting the psychological appropriateness of the standardized odor set. The average model may also be useful in selecting new candidate components for the standardized odor set; however, observations in healthy participants should be considered a tool to reinforce findings in clinical studies.
