Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 532.4 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | The effect of magnetic field on olfactory processing. |
| Authors: |
Telles, C.*1
; Sobel, N.1
1Neurosci., Univ California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Sensory Systems - Chemical senses -- Olfaction: Behavior and clinical issues |
| Session: |
532. Olfaction: Behavior and Clinical Issues Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, October 25, 2004 4:00 PM-5:00 PM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # X18 |
| Keywords: | OLFACTION |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly used as a tool to elucidate the neural substrates of olfaction. However, it is possible that the magnetic field used in functional imaging may itself affect olfaction. It is known that the direction and strength of a magnetic field have an effect on visual perception tasks. Likewise, the strong magnetic field of an MRI scanner can induce phantom gustatory perception. Anecdotal observations in our laboratory suggested that olfactory intensity perception was enhanced under a strong magnetic field. To address this possibility, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Task (UPSIT) was administered to 9 subjects both in the MRI scanner (4 Tesla Varian) and out of the magnetic field in a mock scanner. In addition to identification, subjects rated stimulus intensity and pleasantness on a visual analog scale. The order of field strength conditions (IN/OUT of the magnet) and UPSIT booklets (1 through 4) were counterbalanced across subjects. There was no significant difference in identification accuracy (mean OUT = 37, SD = 2.027; mean IN = 33, SD = 2.179) or hedonic rating (mean OUT = 43.97, SD = 17.402; mean IN = 45.86, SD = 17.7) in and out of the magnetic field. By contrast, there was a trend towards greater intensity rating IN as compared to OUT of the magnetic field (mean OUT = 0.480, mean IN = 0.523, t(8) = 2, p < 0.07). A post-hoc examination of identification accuracy for the 40 odorants that comprise the UPSIT identified a trend towards a magnetic field effect for the odorant cinnamon. Whereas only one subject failed to identify cinnamon in the field, five subjects failed to identify it out of the field. This difference (p < 0.02) does not meet the bonferroni corrected criteria of p < 0.001. Further investigation of these results will determine whether these effects result from a change in peripheral or central level olfactory processing.
Supported by NIH-NIDCD
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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