Recording Odor-Evoked Response Potentials at the Human Olfactory Epithelium

Electro-olfactogram (EOG) represents the sum of generator potentials of olfactory receptor neurons in response to an olfactory stimulus. Although this measurement technique has been used extensively in animal research, its use in human olfaction research has been relatively limited. To understand the promises and limitations of this technique, this review provides an overview of the olfactory epithelium structure and function, and summarizes EOG characteristics and conventions. It describes methodological pitfalls and their possible solutions, artifacts, and questions of debate in the field. In summary, EOG measurements provide a rare opportunity of recording neuronal input from the peripheral olfactory system, while simultaneously obtaining psychophysical responses in awake humans.