Sex-dependent cortical responses to terpene-based olfactory stimulation revealed by EEG and sLORETA

초록

Olfactory stimulation with volatile terpenes has been associated with modulation of human brain activity; however, sex-dependent neurophysiological responses to terpene-derived aromas remain unclear. This study investigated cortical responses to orange- and pine-derived terpene aromas using relative spectral power analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) rhythms and standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA). Volatile and odor-active compounds were characterized using an electronic nose (E-nose) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC-MS-O), indicating terpene-dominant profiles in both aroma samples. EEG recordings were obtained before, during, and after aroma inhalation. Significant sexdependent differences in cortical responses were observed. In males, orange aroma induced significant increases in relative beta- and gamma-band power, particularly in the temporal and occipital regions. In females, pine aroma produced a significant increase in relative beta-band power, mainly in the frontal and occipital regions. sLORETA analysis further revealed distinct cortical activation patterns associated with aroma type and sex. These findings indicate that terpene-based olfactory stimulation differentially modulates cortical EEG responses in males and females, providing neurophysiological evidence for sex-dependent processing of olfactory stimuli.

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