Pupillary responses to intranasal trigeminal and olfactory stimulation. 2009

Christine B Schneider, and Tjalf Ziemssen, and Benno Schuster, and Han-Seok Seo, and Antje Haehner, and Thomas Hummel
Department of Neurology, University of Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether pupillary responses to odorous stimuli reflect their intensity or hedonic tone. A total of 21 healthy subjects participated in the study. Using a computer-controlled olfactometer, subjects received intranasal stimuli including odors of rose (PEA; 2 concentrations), lemon and rotten eggs, plus the trigeminal irritant CO2 (also at two concentrations). Changes in the pupil diameter were obtained ipsilaterally to the side of stimulus presentation. Both trigeminal and olfactory stimulation produced an increase in pupillary diameter. Latencies for pupillary reaction were fastest for the higher concentration of CO2 and slowest after the presentation of PEA at the low concentration. Response amplitudes were largest in response to stimulation with CO2 at the high concentration, while they were smallest in response to odorous stimulation with PEA. Response latencies decreased with increasing stimulus intensity. No such correlation was found for hedonic ratings and pupillary reactions. Thus, the change in the pupillary diameter indicates differences between stimulus modalities and stimulus strength, but not pleasantness or unpleasantness of the odors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007498 Iris The most anterior portion of the uveal layer, separating the anterior chamber from the posterior. It consists of two layers - the stroma and the pigmented epithelium. Color of the iris depends on the amount of melanin in the stroma on reflection from the pigmented epithelium.
D007509 Irritants Drugs that act locally on cutaneous or mucosal surfaces to produce inflammation; those that cause redness due to hyperemia are rubefacients; those that raise blisters are vesicants and those that penetrate sebaceous glands and cause abscesses are pustulants; tear gases and mustard gases are also irritants. Counterirritant,Counterirritants,Irritant,Pustulant,Pustulants,Rubefacient,Rubefacients,Vesicant,Vesicants
D008297 Male Males
D009296 Nasal Cavity The proximal portion of the respiratory passages on either side of the NASAL SEPTUM. Nasal cavities, extending from the nares to the NASOPHARYNX, are lined with ciliated NASAL MUCOSA. Nasal Cavities,Cavities, Nasal,Cavity, Nasal
D009812 Odorants The volatile portions of chemical substances perceptible by the sense of smell. Odors,Aroma,Fragrance,Scents,Aromas,Fragrances,Odor,Odorant,Scent
D009831 Olfactory Mucosa That portion of the nasal mucosa containing the sensory nerve endings for SMELL, located at the dome of each NASAL CAVITY. The yellow-brownish olfactory epithelium consists of OLFACTORY RECEPTOR NEURONS; brush cells; STEM CELLS; and the associated olfactory glands. Olfactory Epithelium,Olfactory Membrane,Epithelium, Olfactory,Membrane, Olfactory,Membranes, Olfactory,Mucosa, Olfactory,Olfactory Membranes
D009832 Olfactory Nerve The 1st cranial nerve. The olfactory nerve conveys the sense of smell. It is formed by the axons of OLFACTORY RECEPTOR NEURONS which project from the olfactory epithelium (in the nasal epithelium) to the OLFACTORY BULB. Cranial Nerve I,First Cranial Nerve,Nervus Olfactorius,Fila Olfactoria,Olfactory Fila,Cranial Nerve Is,Cranial Nerve, First,Cranial Nerves, First,First Cranial Nerves,Nerve I, Cranial,Nerve Is, Cranial,Nerve, First Cranial,Nerve, Olfactory,Nerves, Olfactory,Olfactory Nerves
D011680 Pupil The aperture in the iris through which light passes. Pupils
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D002245 Carbon Dioxide A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals. Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon

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