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Electrophysiological Representations of Odor Identity Study 2

Electrophysiological Representations of Odor in the Human Brain Study 2

Who can join

Ages 12 to 65 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Ages 12 to 65, english speaker, patients undergoing brain surgery for treatment of medically intractable epilepsy

Exclusion Criteria:

* screening for history of smell or taste problems

About the study

To identify a neural representation of odor identity, it is necessary to dissociate molecular structure from perceptual identity/similarity.

Whether the olfactory system employs a coding scheme in which the similarity between neural features is systematically related to perceptual similarity is unknown. Experiments for this aim will acquire perceptual responses while manipulating perceptual similarity. In Experiment 1A, we will examine features of neural responses during natural behavior of freely naming odors. In Experiment 1B, we will manipulate perceptual similarity with odor metamers and collect perceptual and neural data on each trial. Preliminary data suggest that the earliest, high-frequency components of the piriform response can optimally decode perceptual identity.

What is being tested

• odor (behavioral)

Sponsor: Northwestern University · Participants: 28 · Started: Mar 5, 2025

Contact the study team

• Naelly Arriaga, MPH · Phone: 312-503-7244

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07386236

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.