RT Journal Article
T1 Modulation of Higher-Order Olfaction Components on Executive Functions in Humans.
A1 Fagundo, Ana B
A1 Jiménez-Murcia, Susana
A1 Giner-Bartolomé, Cristina
A1 Islam, Mohammed Anisul
A1 Torre, Rafael de la
A1 Pastor, Antoni
A1 Casanueva, Felipe F
A1 Crujeiras, Ana B
A1 Granero, Roser
A1 Baños, Rosa
A1 Botella, Cristina
A1 Fernández-Real, José M
A1 Frühbeck, Gema
A1 Gómez-Ambrosi, Javier
A1 Menchón, José M
A1 Tinahones, Francisco J
A1 Fernández-Aranda, Fernando
K1 Prefrontal cortex
K1 Trastornos del olfato
K1 Toma de decisiones
K1 Cognición
K1 Pruebas neuropsicológicas
K1 Olfato
K1 Test de Stroop
AB 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.
PB Public Library of Science
YR 2015
FD 2015-06-17
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2170
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2170
LA en
NO 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
NO Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
DS RISalud
RD May 11, 2025