Alexithymia modulates the attitudes towards odors but not the olfactory abilities or the affective reactions to odors

A new study, published in PLOS ONE journal, investigated the different aspects of olfactory perception in individuals with alexithymia. The study is the result of a collaboration of the University of Padua with the University of Milano-Bicocca, the University of Bologna, and the Medical University of Vienna.

Alexithymia is a psychological construct characterized by impaired emotional processing. Although emotions and smell are closely connected to each other, only a few studies have investigated olfaction in individuals with alexithymia, reporting alterations in olfactory perception. However, these studies do not allow for comprehensive conclusions.

Click here for more information - Department of Psychology