| Objective:To develop an apparatus that is used to stimulate olfaction and to record olfactory event related potentials (OERP) and has a stable performance and is applicable for clinics. To introduce a technique of evoking and recording OERP. To present the relation of OERP and odorant volume for one stimulation and the effect of subjects' age and gender on OERP.Methods:This apparatus was composed of a chemical stimulator, a signal collecting and analysing device, a circumstance modulator, a main computer, a respiration sensor, a white noise producer, and a printer. The main computer accepted all sorts of parameters and made all parts into a system to complete every duty. The respiration sensor gave a signal to the main computer when stimulation, then the chemical stimulator released a certain volume of odorant at the same temperature as that of the circumstance to the nostril. And OERP was synchronously recorded by the signal collecting and analysing device. OERP waveform was finally displayed through a monitor after being collected, amplified, added, averaged, and analysed. Purified air at certain temperature and humidity was provided by the circumstance modulator.Thirty-two healthy volunteers participated in the study. They were comprised of 16 men and 16 women (range 18-46 years), respectively mean ages 32.3 and 31.1 years. The device was what we introduced. OERP was recorded from the Cz, electrode site referenced monopolarly to linked earlobes A2, grounded to the forehead. Impedances were kept below 5 k Ω. At the beginning of inspiration, 0.3 ml isoamyl acetate was delivered to the right nostril, and the potentials was recorded synchronously. Stimulus duration was presented 16 times. Interstimulus interval was approximately 60 seconds. The bandwidth was 0.1-100 Hz. The sensitivity was 10 μ V/division. The analysing time window was 1000 ms. White noise of approximately... |
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