Past studies have shown that schizophrenic men tend to be impaired on
the olfactory identification task. We examined individual differences
in the olfactory function in relation to schizotypy. Healthy individua
ls who might carry latent liability for schizophrenia participated in
olfactory identification and acuity tasks. Psychometrically ascertaine
d schizotypic men showed deficits on the olfactory identification task
but not on the olfactory acuity task. The olfactory identification fu
nction partly depended on the menstrual cycle in women. But further sy
stematic research is needed to clarify the possible role of estrogen.
(C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.