Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40796200›Full record

ArticleChemical senses2025

A new method for automated olfactory threshold testing.

Veikko Surakka, Marko Björkbacka, Jani Lylykangas, Jussi Rantala, Timo Salpavaara, Jarmo Verho, Oleg Spakov, Venla Kamppari, Philipp Müller, Antti Vehkaoja and 3 more

Abstract readValidation Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Chemical senses, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Veikko SurakkaResearch Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-3986-0713
Marko BjörkbackaResearch Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0009-0008-4937-9652
Jani LylykangasResearch Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-5150-0334
Jussi RantalaResearch Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-6308-7874
Timo SalpavaaraMicro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-6331-6972
Jarmo VerhoMicro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-8272-4760
Oleg SpakovResearch Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-7679-4631
Venla KamppariResearch Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0009-0006-6420-7926
Philipp MüllerSensor Technology and Biomeasurements, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-4314-7339
Antti VehkaojaSensor Technology and Biomeasurements, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-3721-3467
Pasi KallioMicro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-2890-6782
Divesh ThaplooDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6434-3342
Thomas HummelDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9713-0183

Funding

Academy of FinlandTampere UniversityTechnical University DresdenVolkswagenstiftung
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We present a new method for fully self-administered olfactory testing. Technical development and testing and 2 user studies were conducted to test the functionality of a prototype device called Automated Olfactory Threshold Test (AutomOT). Technical testing showed repeatable functioning of the developed olfactory display technology in accurately producing 11 predefined odor intensity levels over 10 different days. In User Study 1, we tested the reliability, usability, and subjective workload of the use of the device. Participants (N = 29) with a normal sense of smell performed an automated threshold test 4 times. The results showed that the correlations between the tests were statistically significant, r = 0.44 to 0.78, all P-values ≤0.018. In User Study 2, we demonstrated the functioning of the device with normosmic and hyposmic/anosmic participants (n = 23 and n = 27, respectively) who performed both the current clinical standard, Sniffin' Sticks test, and the AutomOT test. Also, the usability and subjective workload of the use of the device were evaluated. The overall correlation of olfactory thresholds between the Sniffin' Sticks and the AutomOT was r = 0.48, P < 0.001. In both user studies, the results indicated good usability as measured by the System Usability Scale and low workload assessed by NASA Task Load Index. Overall, the results suggest that the newly developed AutomOT test is a reliable, valid, and usable tool for clinical assessment of olfactory thresholds.

Indexed as

Neuropsychological TestsOlfactory PerceptionSelf-TestingSensory ThresholdsSmellAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOdorantsYoung Adultautomated technologysense of smellSniffin’ Stickstest–retest reliabilitythresholdusability

Identifiers

PMID40796200
PMCPMC12370629

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.