title: Emotional stimulation alters olfactory sensitivity and odor judgment.
abstract: Emotions have a strong influence on the perception of visual and auditory stimuli. Only little is known about the relation between emotional stimulation and olfactory functions. The present study investigated the relationship between the presentation of affective pictures, olfactory functions, and sex. Olfactory performance was assessed in 32 subjects (16 male). Olfactory sensitivity was significantly reduced following unpleasant picture presentation for all subjects and following pleasant picture presentation for male subjects only. Pleasantness and intensity ratings of a neutral suprathreshold odor were related to the valence of the pictures: After unpleasant picture presentation, the odor was rated as less pleasant and more intense, whereas viewing positive pictures induced a significant increase in reported odor pleasantness. We conclude that inducing a negative emotional state reduces olfactory sensitivity. A relation to functional deviations within the primary olfactory cortices is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. pollatos@psy.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pollatos
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopietz
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Vehbi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sakar
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anzinger
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schandry
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiesmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D010465:Perception; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*