title: Delayed activation of the primary orbitofrontal cortex in post-traumatic anosmia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional magnetic resonance imaging may help in elucidating the pathophysiology of post-traumatic anosmia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using an fMRI olfactory stimulus paradigm, this study compared BOLD activation of the brain in a 21-year old male research subject with post-traumatic anosmia and a 19-year old male normal healthy control participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A delayed activation of the primary orbitofrontal cortex was found in the subject with traumatic anosmia, which may represent a crucial pathophysiological mechanism in the subject with traumatic anosmia due to axonal injury or traumatic transection at the lamina cribrosa level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy subjects the activation of secondary cortical areas may be due to the habituation effect in the primary olfactory cortex. This raises the possibility that, in the absence of secondary activation areas-that may act as a feed-back habituation or desensitization in the patient-one of the primary response areas is activated over the longer period of stimulation. The failed activation of these secondary areas in the patient may cause a feed-back habituation or desensitization in the patient and could also play a role in the disturbed perception of odours.
authors: a Pediatric Imaging Research Center, Children Hospital of Pittsburgh , Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
authors: Vincent Kyu
authors: VK
authors: Lee
authors: b Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik , Paracelsus Medical University , Salzburg , Austria.
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Nardone
authors: a Pediatric Imaging Research Center, Children Hospital of Pittsburgh , Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
authors: Fern
authors: F
authors: Wasco
authors: c Section of Neuroradiology , Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
authors: Ashok
authors: A
authors: Panigrahy
authors: c Section of Neuroradiology , Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Zuccoli
mesh_terms: D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Functional MRI; anosmia; olfactory pathways; post-traumatic anosmia