Measurement and Analyses of Olfactory Event-Related Potentials

Olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) are brain electrical activities time-locked to olfactory stimuli, detectable via scalp electrodes. They offer a noninvasive means to study cortical olfactory processing in humans. Previous research suggests that olfactory cortical processing occurring within several seconds after the onset of an odor can be tracked using OERPs. This enables the investigation of the temporal dynamics of neural activity, spanning from those associated with odor properties to subjects' states. Moreover, OERPs are influenced by diseases, including olfactory, neurological, or psychiatric conditions, and have the potential to serve as biomarkers. This chapter describes the measurement and analysis methods required to obtain OERPs, with a particular focus on odor delivery, aiming to provide a primer for those unfamiliar with OERP measurement.