title: Functional neuro-imaging and post-traumatic olfactory impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate via a research literature survey the anterior neurological significance of decreased olfactory functioning following traumatic brain injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer literature review was performed to locate all functional neuro-imaging studies on patients with post-traumatic anosmia and other olfactory deficits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A convergence of findings from nine functional neuro-imaging studies indicating evidence for reduced metabolic activity at rest or relative hypo-perfusion during olfactory activations. Hypo-activation of the prefrontal regions was apparent in all nine post-traumatic samples, with three samples yielding evidence of reduced activity in the temporal regions as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The practical ramifications include the reasonable hypothesis that a total anosmic head trauma patient likely has frontal lobe involvement.
authors.affiliation: Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurber
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Roberts