Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science (대한임상검사과학회지)

Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (대한임상검사과학회)
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A Study on the Electrophysiological Response of the Cerebral Cortex by Olfactory Stimulation: Alpha Activity

후각자극에 의한 대뇌겉질의 전기생리학적 반응에 대한 연구: 알파 활동도

  • Kang, Ji-Hyuk (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Health and Medical Science, Daejeon University)
  • 강지혁 (대전대학교 보건의료과학대학 임상병리학과)
  • Received : 2019.10.15
  • Accepted : 2019.10.25
  • Published : 2019.12.31
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Abstract

Many studies in recent decades have revealed that olfactory stimulation by perfume or malodor inhalation exerts various psychological and physiological effects on humans. The most recent studies have examined the electrophysiological response of olfactory stimulation on the activity of human cortical nerve cells. The purpose of this current study is to quantitatively analyze what changes occur in the alpha activity in healthy participants (N=12) on olfactory stimulation using two types of odors (acacia and butanol). Exposure to the odor of acacia perfume was associated with a significant increase (66.7%) in alpha activity when compared with that of the no-odor background EEG. Exposure to the odor of butanol was associated with a significant reduction (33.3% to 41.7%) in EEG alpha activity when compared with that of the no-odor control. The results of this study demonstrated the potential to alter the cerebral cortex activity by olfactory stimulation. The results also suggest that olfactory perception has stimulatory effects on the function of the nervous system. In other words, it could be concluded from this study that inhalation of olfactory stimulation affected brain wave activities and mood states. Further research is needed to completely understand and describe the electrophysiological effects of different odors on the central nervous system.

최근 수십 년 동안 향기 및 악취 흡입에 의한 후각자극이 인간에게 심리적, 생리적 영향을 미친다는 다양한 연구가 보고되고 있다. 본 연구는 후각자극에 의한 사람 대뇌겉질 신경세포의 전기생리학적 반응성을 조사하고자 하였다. 건강한 남성 12명을 대상으로 아카시아와 부탄올에 의한 후각자극이 알파파의 활동도에 미치는 영향을 정량적으로 분석하였다. 아카시아 향취를 흡입하는 경우는 후각자극이 없는 안정상태의 뇌파에 비해 알파파의 활동도가 유의하게 증가(66.7%)하였고, 부탄올 악취에서는 알파파 활동도의 유의한 감소(33.3%~41.7%)가 관찰되었다. 본 연구는 후각자극에 의하여 대뇌겉질 신경세포의 활동도에 변화가 있을 수 있다는 것을 시사한다. 이러한 결과는 후각인지가 신경계의 기능에 자극효과를 나타낼 수 있다는 것을 의미한다. 즉 본 연구에서 후각자극이 뇌파활동과 기분상태에 영향을 미친다는 결론을 도출할 수 있었다. 이러한 관점에서 향후 중추신경계에 대한 전기생리학적 효과의 영향을 이해하고, 설명하기 위한 추가연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

Keywords

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