Increased olfactory bulb volume and olfactory function in early blind subjects.

Rombaux, Philippe [UCL] Huart, Caroline [UCL] De Volder, Anne [UCL] Cuevas, Isabel [UCL] Renier, Laurent [UCL] Duprez, Thierry [UCL] Grandin, Cécile [UCL]

It has been shown that the volume of the olfactory bulb (OB) changes with function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the OB volume and the olfactory function in early blind (EB) subjects increase compared with controls. Psychophysical testing of olfactory performances and OB volumetric measurements assessed by an MRI scan were studied. Quantitative olfactory function expressed in the odor discrimination and odor-free identification scores was higher in EB subjects compared with controls. The mean of right, left and total OB volume was 65.40, 75.48, and 140.89 mm, respectively for the EB subjects and 54.47, 52.11, and 106.60 mm, respectively for the controls, with these differences being significant. EB subjects have superior olfactory abilities and presented with significantly higher OB volume than the sighted controls. OB plasticity may explain this compensatory mechanism between visual deprivation and enhanced olfactory perception.