title: Event-related potentials in patients with olfactory loss.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The olfactory event-related potential (OERP) method provides a means of objectively assessing olfactory function. However, further validation is needed before OERPs can be routinely applied in clinical assessment of olfactory dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess OERPs in patients with olfactory impairment and in healthy controls to investigate possible dose-response effects of odor concentration on OERP parameters in these groups, thereby exploring possibilities and limitations regarding the clinical utility of the OERP method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with a history of impaired olfactory function and 24 controls participated in the study. Olfactory function was assessed with psychophysical tests, i.e. assessment of the odor threshold, and odor identification. OERPs were obtained in response to the olfactory stimulant butanol at two different concentrations, presented via an olfactometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OERP amplitudes increased and the latencies shortened with increasing stimulus concentration. Furthermore, a difference between the groups was found, with higher OERP amplitudes and shorter latencies in healthy subjects compared with patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Central Hospital, Skövde, Sweden.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brämerson
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Millqvist
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ydse
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Jonas K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bende
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000440:Butanols; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols