Publication:
Modulation of Higher-Order Olfaction Components on Executive Functions in Humans.

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URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2170
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130319
Date
2015-06-17
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Public Library of Science
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Abstract
The prefrontal (PFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) appear to be associated with both executive functions and olfaction. However, there is little data relating olfactory processing and executive functions in humans. The present study aimed at exploring the role of olfaction on executive functioning, making a distinction between primary and more cognitive aspects of olfaction. Three executive tasks of similar difficulty were used. One was used to assess hot executive functions (Iowa Gambling Task-IGT), and two as a measure of cold executive functioning (Stroop Colour and Word Test-SCWT and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-WCST). Sixty two healthy participants were included: 31 with normosmia and 31 with hyposmia. Olfactory abilities were assessed using the ''Sniffin' Sticks'' test and the olfactory threshold, odour discrimination and odour identification measures were obtained. All participants were female, aged between 18 and 60. Results showed that participants with hyposmia displayed worse performance in decision making (IGT; Cohen's-d = 0.91) and cognitive flexibility (WCST; Cohen's-d between 0.54 and 0.68) compared to those with normosmia. Multiple regression adjusted by the covariates participants' age and education level showed a positive association between odour identification and the cognitive inhibition response (SCWT-interference; Beta = 0.29; p = .034). The odour discrimination capacity was not a predictor of the cognitive executive performance. Our results suggest that both hot and cold executive functions seem to be associated with higher-order olfactory functioning in humans. These results robustly support the hypothesis that olfaction and executive measures have a common neural substrate in PFC and OFC, and suggest that olfaction might be a reliable cognitive marker in psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
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Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
MeSH Terms
Medical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Neurologic Manifestations::Sensation Disorders::Olfaction Disorders
Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Executive Function
Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Cognition
Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Thinking::Decision Making
Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavioral Disciplines and Activities::Psychological Tests::Neuropsychological Tests
Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Psychophysiology::Sensation::Smell
Medical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humans
Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavioral Disciplines and Activities::Psychological Tests::Neuropsychological Tests::Stroop Test
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Keywords
Prefrontal cortex, Trastornos del olfato, Toma de decisiones, Cognición, Pruebas neuropsicológicas, Olfato, Test de Stroop
Citation
Fagundo AB, Jiménez-Murcia S, Giner-Bartolomé C, Islam MA, Torre R de la, Pastor A, et al. Modulation of Higher-Order Olfaction Components on Executive Functions in Humans. PLoS ONE. 2015; 10(6):e0130319
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2170
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SAS - Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria