Neurophysiological Response To Olfactory Stimuli In Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

EEG; Emotional reactivity; Late positive potential; Olfaction; PTSD

Abstract

There is a need for a better understanding of underlying pathology in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to develop more effective treatments. The late positive potential (LPP) amplitude fromelectroencephalogram has been used to assess individual differences in emotional reactivity. There is evidence that olfaction is particularly important in emotional processing in PTSD. The current study examined LPP amplitudes in response to olfactory stimuli in 24 combat veterans with PTSD and 24 nonmilitary/non-PTSD controls. An olfactometer delivered three negatively valenced odorants, with 12 trials of each delivered in a random order. The groups did not differ in LPP amplitude across odorants. However, within the PTSD group, higher Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores related to an increased LPP amplitude after diesel fuel and rotten egg, but not n-butanol, odorants. Results provide specific targets and theory for further research into clinical applications such as selection of idiographic odorants for use in virtual-reality exposure therapy.

Publication Date

6-1-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

Volume

206

Issue

6

Number of Pages

423-428

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000818

Socpus ID

85051735145 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85051735145

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