ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although olfactory stimulation has been known to produce effects on human mood and cognition, the specific EEG patterns of activity was reported diversely. The purpose of this study was to investigate EEG changes by odorant using low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) in young healthy subjects. METHODS: The EEG's of nineteen (10 males, 9 females) non-smoking right-handed college students were recorded after odorant stimulation. A nineteen-channel EEG was recorded referenced to linked ears before and during olfactory stimulation. Olfactory stimulation was presented with lavender essential oil by blotter method. The LORETA power was computed from ten 2-s epochs, separately for the different EEG frequencies. The power values were logarithmically transformed and paired sample t-tests were done for each voxel and frequency band (1.5-30 Hz). Statistical results were displayed 3-dimensionally on the standard brain template. RESULTS: All subjects experienced positive feelings (relaxed and pleasant) by olfactory stimulation with lavender oil (p<0.01). The LORETA power of theta and alpha band was increased in the dorsolateral and medial frontal areas, predominantly in the posterior cingulate gyri. The alpha LORETA power was also increased in bilateral orbitofrontal regions and the left perisylvian region including the insular cortex. Beta power was increased in the posterior cingulated gyri and mesial temporal region, predominantly on the left side. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that olfaction associated with emotional feeling might induce brain electrical power changes not only in the limbic system but also in the neocortex with lateralization to the dominant hemisphere.