Impaired Olfactory Identification in Asperger's Syndrome

Y. Suzuki, H.D. Critchley, A. Rowe, P. Howlin, and D. G.M. Murphy, The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences; Winter 2003; 15, 1, 105 - 107.

The authors measured odor detection threshold and odor identification in 12 males with Asperger's Syndrome and 12 matched control subjects. Relative to control subjects, Asperger's Syndrome subjects were not impaired at odor detection but were significantly impaired at olfactory identification. We report normal odor detection, but impaired olfactory identification, in people with AS. Medial temporal lobe structures are implicated in odor detection, whereas orbitofrontal cortex is implicated in olfactory identification, therefore, our results suggest that AS is associated with orbitofrontal, but not medial temporal lobe, dysfunction.