@article{PollatosKurzAlbrechtetal.2008,
  author    = {Pollatos, Olga and Kurz, Anne-Lene and Albrecht, Jessica and Schreder, Tatjana and Kleemann, Anna Maria and Sch{\"o}pf, Veronika and Kopietz, Rainer and Wiesmann, Martin and Schandry, Rainer},
  title     = {Reduced perception of bodily signals in anorexia nervosa},
  issn      = {1471-0153},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {OBJECTIVE: Interoceptive awareness is known to be impaired in eating disorders. To date, it has remained unclear whether this variable is related to the construct of interoceptive sensitivity. Interoceptive sensitivity is considered to be an essential variable in emotional processes. The objective of the study was to elucidate this potential relationship and to clarify whether general interoceptive sensitivity is reduced in anorexia nervosa. METHODS: Using a heartbeat perception task, interoceptive sensitivity was assessed in 28 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 28 matched healthy controls. Questionnaires assessing interoceptive awareness (EDI) and several other variables were also administered. RESULTS: Patients with anorexia nervosa displayed significantly decreased interoceptive sensitivity. They also had more difficulties in interoceptive awareness. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to a decreased ability to recognize certain visceral sensations related to hunger, there is a generally reduced capacity to accurately perceive bodily signals in anorexia nervosa. This highlights the potential importance of interoceptive sensitivity in the pathogenesis of eating disorders.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchrederAlbrechtKleemannetal.2008,
  author    = {Schreder, Tatjana and Albrecht, Jessica and Kleemann, Anna Maria and Kopietz, Rainer and Anzinger, Andrea and Demmel, Maria and Linn, Jennifer and Pollatos, Olga and Wiesmann, Martin and Schoepf, Veronika},
  title     = {Olfactory performance of patients with anorexia nervosa and healthy subjects in hunger and satiety},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {The aim of this study was to compare the olfactory performance of anorectic patients and healthy controls with regard to the state of satiety. Using the Sniffin" Sticks, sensitivity to a nonfood odor (n-butanol) and to a food- related odor (isoamyl acetate) was assessed in 12 anorectic females and compared with 24 healthy controls. Threshold tests were performed in a hungry as well as in a satiated state, odor discrimination and odor identification only when satiated. Pleasantness of the odors was recorded. In terms of the non-food odor n-butanol, the olfactory sensitivity of anorectic patients and controls did not differ. Patients with anorexia nervosa had a significantly lower detection threshold for the food-related odor, but only in the hungry condition. Anorectic patients showed significant deficits in odor discrimination and identification, and under-evaluated the pleasantness of isoamyl acetate. Our results suggest an impaired projection from secondary to tertiary olfactory structures in anorexia nervosa, based upon the dichotomy of performance between detection threshold and odor discrimination/dentification. The reduced pleasantness of isoamyl acetate indicates a decreased olfactory responsiveness to food stimuli in anorexia nervosa.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AlbrechtKopietzLinnetal.2009,
  author    = {Albrecht, Jessica and Kopietz, Rainer and Linn, Jennifer and Sakar, Vehbi and Anzinger, Andrea and Schreder, Tatjana and Pollatos, Olga and Br{\"u}ckmann, Hartmut-Josef and Kobal, Gerd and Wiesmann, Martin},
  title     = {Activation of olfactory and trigeminal cortical areas following stimulation of the nasal mucosa with low concentrations of S(-)-nicotine vapor : an fMRI study on chemosensory perception},
  issn      = {1065-9471},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Applied to the nasal mucosa in low concentrations, nicotine vapor evokes odorous sensations (mediated by the olfactory system) whereas at higher concentrations nicotine vapor additionally produces burning and stinging sensations in the nose (mediated by the trigeminal system). The objective of this study was to determine whether intranasal stimulation with suprathreshold concentrations of S(-)-nicotine vapor causes brain activation in olfactory cortical areas or if trigeminal cortical areas are also activated. Individual olfactory detection thresholds for S(-)-nicotine were determined in 19 healthy occasional smokers using a computer-controlled air-dilution olfactometer. Functional magnetic resonance images were acquired using a 1.5T MR scanner with applications of nicotine in concentrations at or just above the individual"s olfactory detection threshold. Subjects reliably perceived the stimuli as being odorous. Accordingly, activation of brain areas known to be involved in processing of olfactory stimuli was identified. Although most of the subjects never or only rarely observed a burning or painful sensation in the nose, brain areas associated with the processing of painful stimuli were activated in all subjects. This indicates that the olfactory and trigeminal systems are activated during perception of nicotine and it is not possible to completely separate olfactory from trigeminal effects by lowering the concentration of the applied nicotine. In conclusion, even at low concentrations that do not consistently lead to painful sensations, intranasally applied nicotine activates both the olfactory and the trigeminal system.},
  language  = {en}
}