Functional connectivity patterns in parosmia
Özet
Objective Parosmia is a qualitative olfactory dysfunction presenting as“distorted odor perception” in presence
of an odor source. Aim of this study was to use resting state functional connectivity to gain more information
on the alteration of olfactory processing at the level of the central nervous system level.
Methods A cross sectional study was performed in 145 patients with parosmia (age range 20–76 years; 90
women). Presence and degree of parosmia was diagnosed on the basis of standardized questionnaires. Participants
also received olfactory testing using the “Snifn’ Sticks”. Then they underwent resting state scans using a 3 T magnetic
resonance imaging scanner while fxating on a cross.
Results Whole brain analyses revealed reduced functional connectivity in salience as well as executive control networks. Region of interest-based analyses also supported reduced functional connectivity measures between primary
and secondary olfactory eloquent areas (temporal pole, supramarginal gyrus and right orbitofrontal cortex; dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex and the right piriform cortex).
Conclusions Participants with parosmia exhibited a reduced information fow between memory, decision making
centers, and primary and secondary olfactory areas.
