title: A twin study of odor identification and olfactory sensitivity.
abstract: Interindividual variation in odor identification and olfactory sensitivity has been explained primarily with reference to age, sex and/or experiential factors. A twin study of olfaction can, therefore, substantially contribute to current research in this area. Thirty-nine monozygotic and twenty dizygotic twin pairs have completed the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), an olfactory preference questionnaire, and two odor detection threshold tests (phenyl ethyl alcohol and butanol). A genetic influence on odor identification, as assessed by the UPSIT, has been demonstrated. Future plans and directions for this research program are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Topolski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; C002017:methylphenyl carbinol