| Title: | Association between human olfactory performance and ability to detect single compounds in complex chemical mixtures |
| Author(s): | Sollai G; Tomassini Barbarossa I; Usai P; Hummel T; Crnjar R; |
| Address: | "Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sect. of Physiology, University of Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: gsollai@unica.it. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sect. of Physiology, University of Cagliari, Italy. Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Italy; Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112820 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-507X (Electronic) 0031-9384 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Humans can accurately discern thousands of odorants, although there is a considerable inter-individual variability. Individuals can be classified as normosmic, hyposmic or anosmic, depending on their olfactory sensitivity or blindness. In this research we studied the olfactory sensitivity to banana head-space as a complex odor mixture in a group of 53 subjects classified for their olfactory status, by means of the 'Sniffin' Sticks' extended test. Using the coupled Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/ Olfactometry (GC-MS/O) technique, the single components of the banana flavor mixture were separated, identified and verbally evaluated by each subject. For each compound both the 'odor type' (i.e., odor quality: fruity, floral, green, etc.) and 'odor descriptor' (i.e., name used by subjects for odor identification) were reported, so that we could identify molecules that were defined as smelling of banana. The results show that: (a) the threshold olfactory performance is linearly correlated with the number of odor-active compounds (total or smelling of banana) for each subject; (b) the intensity reported by each subject during the sniffing of the pen containing the banana aroma in the identification test is positively correlated both with its hedonic valence and the number of odor-active compounds smelling of banana. In conclusion, our findings show that human perception of single compounds is conditioned by the threshold olfactory performance of the subject and that his/her ability to detect single molecular components, which smell as the mixture, affects the intensity and hedonism for the complex aroma" |
| Keywords: | "Female Fruit Humans Male Odorants *Olfaction Disorders Restraint, Physical *Smell Isoamyl acetate Olfaction Physiological variations of olfactory performance Pleasantness Sniffin' Sticks test VARU intensity and hedonic valence;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSollai, Giorgia Tomassini Barbarossa, Iole Usai, Paolo Hummel, Thomas Crnjar, Roberto eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2020/01/29 Physiol Behav. 2020 Apr 1; 217:112820. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112820. Epub 2020 Jan 25" |
