Sex-specific hemispheric differences in cortical activation to a bimodal odor

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Most odorants we experience in every day life are bimodal in that they activate both the main olfactory and the intranasal trigeminal system. Few studies have investigated whether true bimodal odorants are processed differently than unimodal odorants. The aim of the study was to address sex-dependent hemispheric differences in olfactory event-related potentials. Event-related potentials (ERP) of the bimodal stimulant peppermint oil were recorded in 34 healthy subjects (17 women). No sex-related differences in olfactory sensitivity, trigeminal sensitivity or hedonic ratings of the stimuli were found. Although perceived similarly by men and women, results indicated a sex-differentiated hemispheric response to bimodal odors. Women generally expressed larger amplitudes and longer latencies over their left hemisphere, whereas men demonstrated a similar pattern over their right hemisphere. This effect was most evident for the early sensory derived ERP components indicating a sex-dependent difference in the sensory processing of bimodal odors.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)197-203
Number of pages7
JournalBehavioural brain research
Volume166
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2006
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 28944440073
ORCID /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/164619686

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adult, Cerebral Cortex/physiology, Dominance, Cerebral/physiology, Evoked Potentials/drug effects, Female, Humans, Male, Odorants, Olfactory Pathways/physiology, Psychophysics/methods, Reaction Time/physiology, Sensory Thresholds/physiology, Sex Characteristics, Stimulation, Chemical, Trigeminal Nerve/physiology