Professor Johannes A Frasnelli

The seminar will take place in seminar room Tranbär (Cranberry), House 4, 3rd floor, Albano.

Organizer of this seminar is the Division of Perception and Psychophysics.

Poster for today's seminar with Johannes A Frasnelli (127 Kb)

Abstract

In many sensory systems, morphometric brain measures are associated with sensitivity and performance. Similarly, olfactory function and morphometric measures of olfactory processing areas are associated. This is true for individuals with a reduced sense of smell, e.g., patients with olfactory dysfunction, individuals with a superior sense of smell, e.g., smell specialists such as perfumers and sommeliers, as well as individuals with a normal sense of smell.

Olfactory function can improve with training and exercises, again in individuals with reduced, normal, and superior olfactory function. Such olfactory training is associated with morphometric changes that can be observed on the level of the olfactory bulb (volume) and cortical processing areas (cortical thickness).

These findings are particularly interesting in the context of the ongoing pandemic, with olfactory dysfunction being a common long-term symptom and olfactory training a potential therapy.

About the General seminars in psychology

This series of seminars is a collaboration between the six research divisions at the Department of Psychology. Local, national and international researchers are invited to speak of current research subjects.

The seminars are held on Wednesdays at 14:00–15:00 onsite in Albano and/or online in Zoom. Extra seminars can also be held on other weekdays or hours, among these the so called half-time seminars in the Doctoral Program in Psychology.