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Correlation between olfactory bulb volume and olfactory function in children and adolescents

Experimental Brain Research volume 214, Article number: 285 (2011) Cite this article

Abstract

The olfactory bulb (OB) is considered to be the most important relay station in odor processing. The present study aimed to investigate the volumetric development of the human bulb and the olfactory function during childhood and youth. Furthermore, the present study aimed to investigate a possible correlation between OB volume and specific olfactory functions including odor threshold, odor discrimination and odor identification. A total of 87 subjects (46 boys, 41 girls), aged 1–17 years (mean age 8 years), participated in this study. None of them reported olfactory dysfunction or had signs of a dysfunctional sense of smell. Whenever possible, participants received a volumetric scan of the brain and lateralized olfactory tests. Volumetric measurements of the right and left OB were taken by manual segmentation of the coronal slices through the OB. Significant correlations between OB volumes and olfactory function were observed. Both, OB volumes and olfactory function increased with age, although the correlation between structure and function was not mediated by the subjects’ age. In conclusion, for the first time, the present study showed a correlation between OB volume and olfactory functions in children.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the DDELTAS (Dijon-Dresden European Laboratories for Taste and Smell—LEA 549), underwritten by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Paris and the Technische Universität Dresden, and awarded to B. Schaal and T. Hummel, and a grant from the Roland Ernst Stiftung to T. Hummel.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors reports a potential conflict of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    T. Hummel, S. Puschmann & D. Buschhüter

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    M. Smitka

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    J. C. Gerber

  4. Centre de Gout, Dijon, France

    B. Schaal

Authors
  1. T. Hummel
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  2. M. Smitka
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  3. S. Puschmann
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  4. J. C. Gerber
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  5. B. Schaal
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  6. D. Buschhüter
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Correspondence to T. Hummel.

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Hummel, T., Smitka, M., Puschmann, S. et al. Correlation between olfactory bulb volume and olfactory function in children and adolescents. Exp Brain Res 214, 285 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2832-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2832-7

Keywords

  • Brain
  • Olfaction
  • Smell
  • Olfactory bulb
  • Children
  • MRI
  • Volumetry
  • Plasticity
  • Development