Development of a Smell Identification Test Using a Novel Stick-Type Odor Presentation Kit

Abstract

The odor identification is strongly influenced by the social and cultural factors; therefore, the odorants used in a smell identification test should be familiar to the test population. In addition, the device used in the test is desired to be simply handled and retain odor quality over time. We developed a novel stick-type odor presentation kit that consists of microcapsules of odorant incorporated into stable cream and the smell identification test using it. Thirteen odorants were selected to be familiar to the test population. In the test, we used two identification methods: one was a modified forced-choice paradigm with "detectable but not recognizable" and "no smell detected" added as choices and the other was a two-step identification paradigm where the participant first selected one of eight odor categories and then chose the specific odor name from the selected category. We verified the performance of the odor stick and the test by stability, using a test-retest paradigm, comparing this test with another smell test, and testing Japanese people from a range of age groups. We conclude that this kit is a useful odor presentation device, and the test using it works effectively as a smell identification test.

The sweet smell of success

“…Odour identification is also usually influenced by social and cultural factors (Saito et al, 2006). For these reasons and also due to the lack of standard smell classification schemes (Chastrette, 2002;Kaye, 2001), it is advised that familiar smells be used for experiments involving the use of olfactory data (Kaye, 2001;Saito et al, 2006).…”

Perceived Synchronization of Olfactory Multimedia

“…Odour identification is also usually influenced by social and cultural factors. For these reasons, and the lack of standard smell classification schemes, it is advised that familiar smells be used for experiments involving the use of olfactory data [11], [16].…”

“…Odour identification is also usually influenced by social and cultural factors. For these reasons, and the lack of standard smell classification schemes, it is advised that familiar smells be used for experiments involving the use of olfactory data [11], [16].We finally opted for six smells widely used in olfactory research [6], [11] as we felt it would not be too difficult to find at least one smell that is easily recognisable and identifiable within each of these 6 smell categories, which incidentally also has a fair distribution ratio between what can be termed as pleasant and unpleasant smell categories. The six smells categories used were flowery, foul, fruity, burnt, resinous and spicy.…”

Olfactory dysfunctions occurring in the course of Parkinson’s disease

“…Badania hipozmicznych pacjentów cierpiących na PD wskazują, że zmiany atroficzne w obszarach pierwszo i dru gorzędowych systemu węchowego -opuszce węchowej, korze gruszkowatej oraz korze okołooczodołowej -są odpo wiedzialne za obserwowany spadek sprawności węchowej, a także częsty brak świadomości tego deficytu [18][19][20][21][22]. Po nadto pacjenci z PD mają trudności z docenianiem wska zówek hedonicznych w czasie identyfikowania zapachów, gdyż uszkodzony jest u nich również obwód odpowiedzial ny za przetwarzanie informacji hedonicznej [23].…”