• V A Schriever, C Boerner, E Mori, M Smitka, and T Hummel.
• Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: valentin.schriever@mac.com.
• Neuroscience. 2015 Feb 26;287:15-22.

ObjectivesOlfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) are widely used to study central odor processing. Only a few studies used this method in children and adolescents. Aim of the current study therefore was to measure OERP and the possible influences of age and sex on central odor processing in this age group.MethodsA total of 81 children between 6 and 17 years of age were included in this study. OERP in response to a rose-like odor were measured from three recording positions (Fz, Cz, Pz) according to the 10-20 system. Stimuli were presented by means of a computer-controlled olfactometer.ResultsAge had a significant influence on the amplitudes of the late positivity with younger children showing larger amplitudes. Although age did not significantly affect the latencies of OERP, interactions of recording positions and latencies between younger and older children and between girls and boys were found.ConclusionsOERP can be used to study central odor processing in children older than 6 years of age. Central odor processing changes from childhood to adolescents possibly reflecting maturation of the brain.Copyright © 2014 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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