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Brain Sciences
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Olfactory System and Brain Diseases: Investigating the Related Structures, Neurocircuits,...
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Olfactory System and Brain Diseases: Investigating the Related Structures, Neurocircuits, and Functional Mechanisms

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 1493

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. David M. Coppola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biology Department, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005, USA
Interests: olfactory system; visual system; neural plasticity; behavior; mood disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sense of smell is an ancient sensory system that is part of the brain’s limbic network controlling emotions and drives. Unsurprisingly, olfaction has been implicated in several neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. For example, a number of disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and multiple sclerosis are all accompanied by some loss of smell. Indeed, in many cases, olfactory decline presages the more devastating symptoms of these conditions. Disorders of mood, including depression and anxiety, are also associated with olfactory dysfunction both as causes and as effects. Thus, the olfactory system is, and will likely remain, a key component of efforts to discover the etiologies, treatments and eventual cures for a host of brain diseases which still cause so much human suffering. In this Special Issue, we invite original research and focused reviews from both basic and clinical scientists on any topic investigating the nexus between olfaction and neurological disease. We are particularly interested in work using modern technologies and investigating novel topics.

Prof. Dr. David M. Coppola
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s
  • Parkinson’s
  • Huntington’s
  • MS
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • disorder
  • olfactory bulbectomy
  • anosmia
  • smell

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 988 KiB  
Article
Cortical Representation of Food-Related Odors in Gustatory Areas Differs According to Their Taste Association: An fMRI Study
by Mariano Mastinu, Divesh Thaploo, Jonathan Warr and Thomas Hummel
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(4), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15040418 (registering DOI) - 19 Apr 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Gustatory stimuli are primarily processed in the insula, while the primary olfactory cortex involves the piriform cortex. Relatively little is known about the central-nervous integration of stimuli from foods. The main aim of this study in healthy participants was to evaluate [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Gustatory stimuli are primarily processed in the insula, while the primary olfactory cortex involves the piriform cortex. Relatively little is known about the central-nervous integration of stimuli from foods. The main aim of this study in healthy participants was to evaluate the processing of olfactory stimuli which are associated with gustatory sensations. Methods: Using a 3T MRI scanner, 47 healthy, right-handed women (mean age: 26.2 ± 4.7 years) with normal senses of taste and smell underwent functional scans. During the analysis, we presented isointense odors (2 “sweet” and 2 “sour”) to subjects using air-dilution olfactometry. Odor delivery (8 s) was alternated with the presentation of odorless air (12 s) and was repeated 10 times. Between each session, participants were asked to associate a taste with the odor. Results: The gustatory areas (insula and frontal operculum) were activated by exposure to odors. In addition, increased activations were observed in the bilateral angular gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, and right caudate and nucleus accumbens during the perception of sour-like odors compared to sweet-like odors. Conclusions: The distinct neural responses to different odor categories suggest that the brain processes odors with varying hedonic and sensory characteristics through distinct neural pathways. Future research could explore how these findings translate to real-world food preferences and dietary behaviors, particularly in relation to individual differences in taste perception. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Olfactory System and Brain Diseases: Investigating the Related Structures, Neurocircuits, and Functional Mechanisms)
13 pages, 281 KiB  
Article
Depression, Anxiety, and Neuropsychiatric Symptom Burden in a Longitudinal Cohort with Persistent Psychophysical Post-COVID Olfactory Dysfunction
by Tiana M. Saak, Jeremy P. Tervo, Brandon J. Vilarello, Patricia T. Jacobson, Francesco F. Caruana, Matthew D. A. Spence, Liam W. Gallagher, David A. Gudis, Jeffrey N. Motter, Davangere P. Devanand and Jonathan B. Overdevest
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(12), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14121277 - 19 Dec 2024
Viewed by 963
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is associated with a variety of neurologic deficits and impacts socialization decisions, mood, and overall quality of life. As a common symptom comprising the long COVID condition, persistent COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) may further impact the presentations of neuropsychiatric [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is associated with a variety of neurologic deficits and impacts socialization decisions, mood, and overall quality of life. As a common symptom comprising the long COVID condition, persistent COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) may further impact the presentations of neuropsychiatric sequelae. Our study aims to characterize the longitudinal burden of depression, anxiety, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in a population with C19OD. Methods: Individuals with perceived C19OD completed a psychophysical screening evaluation of their sense of smell using the comprehensive Sniffin’ Sticks olfactory assessment. Only those with validated psychophysical OD were included in this prospective longitudinal study for baseline and one-year follow-up. Participants also completed PHQ-9, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and neuropsychiatric symptom questionnaires at each time point. Anxiety, depression, and neuropsychiatric symptom prevalence was calculated and compared between time points with Pearson’s chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: Each neuropsychiatric symptom evaluated in this study was reported by 13–49% of longitudinal cohort participants at both baseline and follow-up, except for seizure (0% at baseline and follow-up) and word-finding difficulty (61–68% at baseline and follow-up). Word-finding and focus difficulties were the most commonly reported symptoms. In total, 41% of participants reported some level of depression at baseline and 38% of participants reported depression at one-year follow-up, while 29% and 27% of participants reported some level of anxiety at respective time points. Conclusions: Individuals with C19OD are at risk for developing persistent neuropsychiatric conditions. These neurologic and psychiatric sequelae are persistent with repeated longitudinal assessment, even at nearly 2.5 years following initial COVID-19 diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Olfactory System and Brain Diseases: Investigating the Related Structures, Neurocircuits, and Functional Mechanisms)
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