Olfactory P3 in young and older adults

Olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) were recorded monopolarly at the Fz, Ct, and Pt electrode sites in 16 young adults and 16 older adults to a ssess aging effects on the olfactory P3. Amyl acetate was used to elicit th e OERPs, with an intertrial interval of 45 s. Young adults produced signifi cantly larger P3 amplitudes and shorter P3 peak latencies than older adults . The olfactory P3 response appears to be sensitive to age-related changes in the olfactory system and may reflect cognitive slowing in the central ne rvous system.