Changes of olfactory processing in childhood and adolescence

V A Schriever; C Boerner; E Mori; M Smitka; T Hummel

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.12.012

Changes of olfactory processing in childhood and adolescence

Neuroscience. 2015 Feb 26:287:15-22. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.12.012. Epub 2014 Dec 16.

Authors

V A Schriever¹, C Boerner², E Mori³, M Smitka⁴, T Hummel⁵

Affiliations

¹ Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: valentin.schriever@mac.com.
² Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: Caro.Boerner@gmx.de.
³ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jikei University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: sekieri0421@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: Martin.Smitka@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
⁵ Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: thummel@mail.zih.tu-dresden.de.

PMID: 25526822
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.12.012

Abstract

Objectives: Olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) are widely used to study central odor processing. Only a few studies used this method in children and adolescents. Aim of the current study therefore was to measure OERP and the possible influences of age and sex on central odor processing in this age group.

Methods: A total of 81 children between 6 and 17 years of age were included in this study. OERP in response to a rose-like odor were measured from three recording positions (Fz, Cz, Pz) according to the 10-20 system. Stimuli were presented by means of a computer-controlled olfactometer.

Results: Age had a significant influence on the amplitudes of the late positivity with younger children showing larger amplitudes. Although age did not significantly affect the latencies of OERP, interactions of recording positions and latencies between younger and older children and between girls and boys were found.

Conclusions: OERP can be used to study central odor processing in children older than 6 years of age. Central odor processing changes from childhood to adolescents possibly reflecting maturation of the brain.

Keywords: children; event-related potentials; olfaction; olfactory processing; olfactory testing.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Age Factors
Brain / physiology*
Child
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials
Female
Humans
Male
Odorants
Olfactory Perception / physiology*
Sex Factors