AI Article Synopsis
- The study examines how anxiety might impact the sense of smell in healthy individuals, particularly focusing on olfactory abilities.
- 124 participants (62 men and 62 women) were tested using a specific olfactometer to assess their ability to detect and recognize various odors under varying levels of anxiety.
- Results indicated that higher levels of anxiety were linked to poorer olfactory performance, especially in identifying specific odors like rose, suggesting emotional states can influence smell perception.
Article Abstract
Aims: While olfaction is a sense closely associated with the limbic system and emotions, the relation between emotional status and olfactory functioning has not been well documented. This study aimed to examine the possible effect of anxiety on olfaction in healthy subjects.
Methods: We investigated the effect of state and trait anxiety on the detection and recognition thresholds for five different odors in 124 healthy subjects (62 men and 62 women, mean age = 27.2 years) using a T&T olfactometer.
Results: While the influences of age, socioeconomic status, IQ, and smoking history on olfaction were not significant, women had a lower recognition threshold for the odor of sweet fruit and a higher detection threshold for that of rotten food as compared with men. Both state and trait anxiety ratings were significantly associated with reduced olfactory ability, especially for identification of rose odor.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that emotional status affects olfactory functioning in healthy subjects. Our findings may also partly explain the mild olfactory impairment reported in clinical conditions, such as anxiety disorders.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12277 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!