None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
To investigate the use of natural odours in three concentrations to observe its effects on the autonomic (unconscious) nervous system measured using an electrocardiogram in healthy-adult human volunteers. We hypothesis that natural odours (at specific concentrations) will have odour-concentration specific effects on the autonomic (unconscious) nervous system measured using an electrocardiogram respective to the sex of the cohort.
Interventions
Use of odourants (natural - Mushroom, lavender, jasmine and rose) in three concentrations (low-5-12.5PPM (Parts per million), moderate-33-50PPM and high-175-200PPM) to observe activation from the autonomic nervous system using an electrocardiogram. The concentrations for each odour were chosen from pre-experiment benchtop testing that indicated that participants could significant differentiate these concentrations of the odours (low-mod-high comparisons of each odour). Here, we will observe acti
Use of odourants (natural - Mushroom, lavender, jasmine and rose) in three concentrations (low-5-12.5PPM (Parts per million), moderate-33-50PPM and high-175-200PPM) to observe activation from the autonomic nervous system using an electrocardiogram. The concentrations for each odour were chosen from pre-experiment benchtop testing that indicated that participants could significant differentiate these concentrations of the odours (low-mod-high comparisons of each odour). Here, we will observe activity from the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems using heart-rate variability parameters of the ECG. Specific focus is on the parasympathetic nervous system as this is associated with vagal activation, important for the restoration (or improvement) of sympathovagal balance. We will provide brief 1-min delivery of each odour in each concentration. There will be four deliveries (including sham - air) per day using the same odour (low, moderate and high concentrations). There is a total of four days (for the four different odours). There will be a washout period of 24 hours per session (between different odours). The study design: 24-min per session 4-min of 'treatment'; 4-min baseline, 1-min odour + 3-min baseline x 4 and final 4-min baseline. The experimenter will set up an automated sequence of odour delivery on the olfactometer device. The mode of odour delivery is an olfactometer device that will allow the delivery of the odour through the nose piece into the nose. The odour is provided by the Food Science department at the University of Otago. The Food Science department acquires their odours from 'https://www.purenature.co.nz/collections/essential-oils'. The location of the experiment is in the 3rd floor Hercus Building (Room 319) Cakmak human laboratory.
Sponsors
University of Otago
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
19 Years to 39 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Volunteers that are healthy-adult, male and female of a specified age (19-39 years), with no history of illness or conditions that could affect their sense of smell, vision or electrocardiogram recordings. Volunteers who are non-smokers or have a diagnosis of anosmia. For the female participants, only recruiting females who are not on hormonal contraceptives (as we are measuring two stages of the menstrual cycle).
Exclusion criteria
Volunteers who are outside the age range, whom are smokers or have a history of anosmia. Female volunteers who are on hormonal contraceptives (as it would create difficulty with calculating menstrual cycle stages. Volunteers who have health conditions associated with the cardiovascular system or have chronic inflammatory disorders. This would cause issues with the sympathovagal balance recordings from the electrocardiogram.
Outcome results
None listed