Chemosensory-event-related potentials to olfactory stimulations

Abstract

Odorant pulses were introduced into the noses of 18 healthy volunteers by using a pressurized nasal spray. Just prior to the onset of inspiration, the spray tip was inserted 1 cm into the nostril as atraumatically as possible. The odorant pulse trigger was the subject's respiration. Responses to aerosolized skatole consisted mainly of a positive wave with a peak latency of 147.1 ± 5.3 ms. These positive waves were distinguishable as an evoked response by employing curve superimpositions before and after averaging positive responses. In our cases, saturation of responses was found after 4–5 averagings with the response becoming most clear after 7–8 averagings. The response peak latency to more concentrated skatole was consistently shorter by 9–19 ms than that to 10% diluted skatole in all subjects tested.