A novel psychophysical method for estimating the time course of olfactory rapid adaptation in humans.

In this presentation, we describe a novel method for estimating the onset time course of psychophysical odor adaptation in human observers. The method employs stimulus conditions derived from an analogous stimulus paradigm in audition. To test this procedure, we used liquid-dilution olfactometry to estimate 2-bottle discrimination thresholds for brief (600 ms) presentations of vanilla odor; 17 volunteers (14 females; ages 18-24) served as participants.

Optimization of TACT imaging protocols for in situ visualization of cochlear electrode arrays in cat temporal bones.

Objective: To explore the effect of the number of two-dimensional (2D) images and x-ray projection angles on the resolution of reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) volumes of intracochlear electrode arrays in cadaveric cat temporal bones using Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT).

Design: Multiple 2D radiographs (basis images (BI)) of implanted cadaveric cat temporal bones were acquired using a range of projection angles, and imported into the TACT workbench. 3D volumes were reconstructed using varying numbers of BIs.

High-resolution in situ imaging of cochlear implant electrode arrays in cat temporal bones using Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT).

Objective: To determine the suitability of Tuned Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT) to generate high-resolution images of intracochlear electrode arrays, in situ, with sufficient anatomic and electrode detail to relate the location of individual electrode contacts to important anatomic landmarks in cat cadaveric temporal bones. The ultimate objective is to develop an imaging technology whereby variations in electrode location, relative to the target neural tissues, can be accurately determined and related to variations in performance with the cochlear implant.

Design: Cat temporal bones were implanted with an experimental scala tympani electrode array and an external fiducial landmark.