Olfactory and chemosomatosensory function in pregnant women assessed with event-related potentials.
The purpose of the study was to better understand past findings of nasal chemosensory hypersensitivity in pregnant women by recording chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERPs) for information about cortical neuronal allocation (amplitudes) and temporal processing (latencies) of three concentrations of pyridine ranging from predominantly olfactory to trigeminal in activation in 15 pregnant and 15 non-pregnant women. CSERP components of primarily sensory (N1 and P2) and cognitive (P3) origin were evaluated. The results displayed no group differences in either N1 or P2 amplitudes or latencies, but tendencies of larger amplitudes and shorter latencies for P3 in pregnant women. This implies that pregnant women's hypersensitivity may more likely be referred to cognitive than sensory processing.
Olofsson
Jonas K
JK
Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Sweden.
Broman
Daniel A
DA
Wulff
Marianne
M
Martinkauppi
Mikael
M
Nordin
Steven
S
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology