title: Olfactory event-related potentials in infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) as an objective measurement of olfactory function in infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  OERPs to phenylethyl alcohol were measured in 13 infants, between 23 and 41 days of age. The odor was delivered with a computer-controlled olfactometer. Recording electrodes were applied using the 10-20 system. Data from electrodes Fz, Cz, Pz, C3, and C4 were analyzed by MatLab's Letswave toolbox (André Mouraux, Brussels, Belgium) using the canonical time-domain averaging as well as the time-frequency analyzing method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of 13 infants finished the recording session. We observed OERPs in 7 of these 10 infants. Recordings were best in electrodes Fz and Cz. The N1 peak was visible at 328 ms followed by P2 at 505 ms. In addition, the time-frequency analysis had an increase in low frequencies (4-7 Hz) around 550 ms after odor presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We were able to record OERPs in infants. The time-domain averaging as well as the time-frequency analysis was of value for data analysis.
authors.affiliation: Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Valentin A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Schriever
authors.affiliation: Women's, Children's, and Adolecents' Department, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Góis-Eanes
authors.affiliation: Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Benno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvai, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huart
authors.affiliation: Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*