Presentation Details
| Developing and validating a QUEST-based method to measure odor detection thresholds Lindsey Barnes1, Yasmeen Abunasrah1, Anthony Matejicka1, James Howard2, Laura Shanahan1. 1Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, USA.2Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA |
Abstract
Odor detection thresholds vary substantially across individuals, and they decline with age and in some disease states. Thus, accurate and efficient methods for quantifying these thresholds are essential. Currently, the staircase algorithm is applied almost universally to navigate stimulus intensity steps in odor detection threshold tasks, but the QUEST algorithm could be a more flexible and efficient alternative. QUEST is routinely implemented to measure detection thresholds in the visual domain, but there are only two studies along these lines in the olfactory domain, both of which utilize odorized pens for stimulus delivery. Here, we develop and validate a QUEST-based method to measure odor detection thresholds with a computer-controlled olfactometer. More specifically, participants (n = 54) strived to detect a weak odor (n-butanol) among odorless foils in a 3-alternative forced choice task, where QUEST directed the stimulus intensity trajectory to be maximally informative. Next, participants completed a similar odor detection task based on the more established method of constant stimuli. We found that the QUEST approach yields a threshold output that is highly comparable to that from the method of constant stimuli, despite requiring far fewer trials. This suggests that the method is an accurate and expedient tool, which could be leveraged in olfactory research and clinical settings.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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