Exploring relationships between stress and olfaction as mediated by neuropeptide y
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The negative correlation between olfactory sensitivity and depression has been well documented, but the biological processes underpinning the relationship are not understood. This study explored a potential relationship between olfactory sensitivity, stress, and resilience to stress, specifically examining neuropeptide y (NPY) as a mediator. In phase I, 197 UTC students participated in a survey measuring stress and resilience among other factors. Of this sample, 25 students volunteered for phase II, in which they took an olfactory threshold test and gave blood. Serum levels of cortisol and NPY were analyzed from blood samples. Correlational analyses suggest a positive effect of stress (p=.013) and a negative effect of resilience (p=.003) on olfactory thresholds, while biological markers were inconclusive. Future studies should incorporate the diagnosis of stress disorders, as biological markers may not significantly fluctuate based on non-clinical levels of stress.
Author: William J. Heaton
Language: English
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2490731268