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Radio Waves Can Strengthen Sense of Smell - Neuroscience News [neurosciencenews.com]:

Summary: A new study introduces a safe, painless way to improve the sense of smell using radio waves. Unlike traditional treatments that rely on strong scents or medications, this noninvasive method stimulates olfactory nerves directly through a small antenna placed near the forehead.

Testing showed that a single five-minute session improved participants’ ability to detect faint odors for over a week. Researchers believe this approach could help patients with smell disorders and professionals who depend on fine scent discrimination.

Key Facts

• Noninvasive Therapy: Radio waves enhance smell without chemicals or surgery.
• Proven Effect: One treatment improved odor detection for more than a week.
• Future Use: Could benefit patients with smell loss and scent-dependent professionals.

Source: American Institute of Physics

Our sense of smell is more important than we often realize. It helps us enjoy food, detect danger like smoke or gas leaks, and even affects memory and emotion.

Many people — especially after COVID-19, aging, or brain injury — suffer from a loss of smell. However, there are very few effective treatments, and those that exist often use strong scents or medicines that cause discomfort in patients.

In a study published this week in APL Bioengineering, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Hanyang University and Kwangwoon University in South Korea introduced a simple and painless way to improve our sense of smell using radio waves.

Unlike traditional aroma-based therapy, which indirectly treats smell loss by exposing the patient to chemicals, radio waves can directly target the part of our brain responsible for smell, without causing pain.

“The method is completely noninvasive — no surgery or chemicals needed — and safe, as it does not overheat the skin or cause discomfort,” author Yonwoong Jang said.

In the study, the team asked volunteers with a healthy sense of smell to sit while a small radio antenna was placed near, but not touching, their forehead. For five minutes, this antenna gently sent out radio waves to reach the smell-related nerves deep in the brain.

Before and after the short treatment, the authors tested how well the patient could smell very faint odors, like diluted alcohol or fruit scents, using pen-shaped odor dispensers called Sniffin’ Sticks. They also recorded the patients’ brain signals to see how active their smell nerves were.

The team found that their method improved subjects’ sense of smell for over a week after just one treatment.

“This study represents the first time that a person’s sense of smell has been improved using radio waves without any physical contact or chemicals, and the first attempt to explore radio frequency stimulation as a potential therapy for neurological conditions,” Jang said.

The results of the current study, which focused on people with a normal sense of smell, could help professionals such as perfumers, chefs, or coffee tasters, who need to distinguish aromatic subtleties. The method could be also used to preserve or even enhance the sense of smell.

As an important next step, the team plans to conduct a similar study on individuals with olfactory dysfunction, such as anosmia (complete loss of smell) or hyposmia (reduced sense of smell).

“This will help us determine whether the treatment can truly benefit those who need it most,” Jang said.

About this olfaction and neurotech research news

Author:Hannah Daniel [neurosciencenews.com]
Source: American Institute of Physics [aip.org]
Contact: Hannah Daniel – American Institute of Physics
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.
“Noncontact radiofrequency stimulation to the olfactory nerve of human subjects [doi.org]” by Yonwoong Jang et al. APL Bioengineering

Abstract

Noncontact radiofrequency stimulation to the olfactory nerve of human subjects

Damage to the olfactory nerve, caused by aging, trauma, or neurological disorders, can lead to smell loss, negatively impacting quality of life, taste perception, safety, and emotional well-being.

Currently, olfactory training, which involves exposure to aromatic odorants, is the most widely used treatment. While this method provides some benefit, it does not offer a fundamental cure.

Developing an approach that directly stimulates the olfactory nerves to restore neural activity is critical for effectively addressing smell loss.

This study investigates the effects of radiofrequency (RF) stimulation on the olfactory nerves in healthy individuals to evaluate its potential as a treatment for olfactory dysfunction. An RF antenna was positioned, and the specific absorption rate was verified using 3D modeling.

The sensitivity of odor threshold tests with n-butanol and specific odors was assessed in a total of 28 healthy subjects, confirming olfactory nerve stimulation through electrobulbogram measurements.

The average odor threshold for n-butanol in 23 subjects was 9.73 ± 2.45. RF stimulation on the olfactory nerve for 5 min at 10–20 W improved the odor threshold score to 15.88 ± 0.25, indicating enhanced sensitivity lasting up to one week.

Electrical signals from olfactory nerves significantly increased after RF stimulation compared to pre-stimulation levels, consistent with results for natural odors like grapes and bananas.

Unlike chemical-based treatments, RF stimulation avoids discomfort or dissipation of effects and provides sustained nerve activation.

These findings demonstrate the potential of RF technology for olfactory training and as a novel treatment for olfactory dysfunction, as well as applications in maintaining odor sensitivity for professionals.

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Journal Reference:
Just a moment..., (DOI: 10.1063/5.0275613 [doi.org])

See also:

• Just a moment... [aip.org]

Original Submission