The overall aim of the project is to produce a set of psychophysical, physiological, and radiological techniques to aid in the diagnosis of olfactory dysfunction. These tools are designed to differentiate between peripheral conductive disorders and neural olfactory dysfunctions, on the one hand, and between olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb dysfunctions, on the other hand.
Specific Aim 1 : Determine whether specific perturbations create their own psychophysical patterns of odorant misidentification nd dissimilarity. The extent to which specific medical and experimental manipulations induce consistent changes in psychophysical odorant object space as inferred from the olfactory Confusion matrix (OCM) and from psychophysical ratings of odorant dissimilarity using a labeled Magnitude Scale (LMS) will be determined. That is, are psychophysical responses altered in some consistent and predictable fashion by different perturbations? Specific Aim 2: Evaluate the effect of antecedent events on OCM patterns and lMS patterns - A prospective study. We will evaluate the capability of events in a patient's history to influence the PATTERNS of OCM an LMS responses.
Specific Aim 3 : Evaluate a technique to separate conductive and sensorineural dysfunctions in the diagnosis of hyposmia. An endoscopically guided odorant delivery system will be developed to quantify the relative contributions of sensorineural dysfunction and peripheral conductive loss. This delivery system will bypass peripheral conductive disorders in much the same way as bone conduction is used to evaluate conductive hearing loss.
Specific Aim 4 : Test the importance of the morphology of the nasal cavity, as opposed to its patency, on olfactory ability. A mathematical model will be developed to relate olfactory ability to morphology of the nasal cavity as an aid in the diagnosis of peripheral conductive disorders not related to patency.
Specific Aim 5 : Determine the functional status of the human olfactory epithelium with optical electrophysiological techniques. The techniques necessary to observe optically recorded odorant-induced activity patterns int he olfactory mucosa of normosmic humans will be developed. In addition, the relationship between mucosal activity patterns and disease processes will be examined.
Specific Aim 6; Evaluate whether the volume of the olfactory bulb can be used as a reliable measure in the diagnosis of olfactory dysfunctions. Age and gender normative data on the size and dimensions of the olfactory bulb will be generated in normosmic subjects using MR imaging. These dimensions will be compared to the dimensions of olfactory bulbs in patients with Alzheimer's Disease. The relationship between olfactory ability will also be examined. This study proposes to investigate a wide range of techniques which might selectively tap and individually identify a number of mechanisms of dysosmia. In so doing, it aims to provide the necessary conceptual framework and technical strategy for further development of techniques to evaluate to evaluate the dysosmic patient.

Project Start
1999-04-01
Project End
2002-03-31
Budget Start
1998-10-01
Budget End
1999-09-30
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Upstate Medical University
Department
Type
DUNS #
058889106
City
Syracuse
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
13210
Youngentob, Steven L; Schwob, James E (2006) Odorant identification and quality perception following methyl bromide-induced lesions of the olfactory epithelium. Behav Neurosci 120:1346-55
Holbrook, Eric H; Leopold, Donald A; Schwob, James E (2005) Abnormalities of axon growth in human olfactory mucosa. Laryngoscope 115:2144-54
White, Theresa L; Kurtz, Daniel B (2003) The relationship between metacognitive awareness of olfactory ability and age in people reporting chemosensory disturbances. Am J Psychol 116:99-110
Schwob, J E; Saha, S; Youngentob, S L et al. (2001) Intranasal inoculation with the olfactory bulb line variant of mouse hepatitis virus causes extensive destruction of the olfactory bulb and accelerated turnover of neurons in the olfactory epithelium of mice. Chem Senses 26:937-52
Youngentob, S L; Schwob, J E; Saha, S et al. (2001) Functional consequences following infection of the olfactory system by intranasal infusion of the olfactory bulb line variant (OBLV) of mouse hepatitis strain JHM. Chem Senses 26:953-63
Hornung, D E; Smith, D J; Kurtz, D B et al. (2001) Effect of nasal dilators on nasal structures, sniffing strategies, and olfactory ability. Rhinology 39:84-7
Kurtz, D B; Sheehe, P R; Kent, P F et al. (2000) Odorant quality perception: a metric individual differences approach. Percept Psychophys 62:1121-9
Kurtz, D B; White, T L; Hayes, M (2000) The labeled dissimilarity scale: a metric of perceptual dissimilarity. Percept Psychophys 62:152-61
Schwob, J E; Youngentob, S L; Ring, G et al. (1999) Reinnervation of the rat olfactory bulb after methyl bromide-induced lesion: timing and extent of reinnervation. J Comp Neurol 412:439-57
Kurtz, D B; White, T L; Hornung, D E et al. (1999) What a tangled web we weave: discriminating between malingering and anosmia. Chem Senses 24:697-700

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