Smell training improves olfactory function and alters brain structure
Smell training improves olfactory function and alters brain structure
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DOI：
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.008
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发表时间：
2019-04-01
期刊：
影响因子：
5.7
通讯作者：
Frasnelli, Johannes
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Al Ain, Syrina;Poupon, Daphnee;Frasnelli, Johannes
训练和反复暴露在气味中会增强嗅觉敏感度。到目前为止，强化嗅觉训练对健康人群嗅觉功能的效果及其潜在的神经生物学基础仍然知之甚少。本研究调查了为期6周的高强度和良好控制的嗅觉训练对嗅觉功能和脑结构/神经可塑性的影响。36名健康青年被招募并随机分成三组：(1)12名参与者每天接受至少20min的高强度嗅觉训练，包括(A)气味强度分类任务，(B)气味质量分类任务和(C)目标气味检测任务，(2)12名参与者接受等量的视觉控制训练，(3)12名对照组不参加任何训练。在训练前后，所有参与者都进行了一系列嗅觉测试，第一组和第二组的参与者进行了结构磁共振(MR)成像，从中获得了皮质厚度和组织密度等指标。在为期6周的训练期间，参与者在各自训练的任务中有所提高。与对照组参与者相比，那些接受嗅觉训练的人改善了一般嗅觉功能，特别是在气味识别方面，因此显示出模式内转移。此外，磁共振成像分析显示，嗅觉训练导致右额下回、双侧梭形回和右侧内嗅觉皮质厚度增加。这项研究表明，高强度的嗅觉训练通常可以改善嗅觉功能，这种改善与大脑嗅觉加工区结构的变化有关。
Training and repeated exposure to odorants leads to enhanced olfactory sensitivity. So far, the efficacy of intensive olfactory training on olfactory function in a healthy population and its underlying neurobiological basis remain poorly known. This study investigated the effects of a 6-week intensive and well-controlled olfactory training on olfactory function and brain structure/neuroplasticity. Thirty-six healthy young individuals were recruited and randomly distributed in three groups: (1) 12 participants underwent daily intensive olfactory training of at least 20 min that included an (a) odor intensity classification task, an (b) odor quality classification task and an (c) target odor detection task, (2) 12 participants underwent an equivalent visual control training, and (3) 12 control individuals did not participate in any training. Before and after the training period, all participants performed a series of olfactory tests and those from groups 1 and 2 underwent structural magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, from which we obtained measures such as cortical thickness and tissue density.Participants improved in the respectively trained tasks throughout the 6-weeks training period. Those who underwent olfactory training improved general olfactory function compared to control participants, especially in odor identification, thus showing intramodal transfer. Further, MR imaging analysis revealed that olfactory training led to increased cortical thickness in the right inferior frontal gyrus, the bilateral fusiform gyrus and the right entorhinal cortex.This research shows that intensive olfactory training can generally improve olfactory function and that this improvement is associated with changes in the structure of olfactory processing areas of the brain.