ABSTRACT
Interest in the nature and bases of olfactory function in human and nonhuman populations has stimulated considerable research activity (Kohl and Francoeur, 1995; Griff and Reed, 1995; Kodis, 1998; Laurent, 1999). Studies of individual differences in olfactory characteristics have focused on measures related to experience (Castle, Van Toller and Milligan, 2000), age (Murphy et al., 2000; Kline et al., 2000), health (Wszolek and Markopoulou, 1998) (see Chapter 22), smoking (de Jong et al., 1999; Davies and Davies, 1999), and sex (Gangestad and Thornhill, 1998; Yousem et al., 1999). Genetic influences on olfactory measures have, however, received relatively less attention. For example, overviews by Wysocki and Beauchamp (1991) and Segal and Topolski (1995) referenced only a few twin and family studies of olfaction, in contrast with the larger accumulation of nonhuman research. The ensuing years have witnessed some additional twin and family studies in this area, yet they remain few in number. Neglect of a behavioralgenetic perspective in olfactory research is unfortunate because this approach has demonstrated genetic effects across a wide range of human psychological and physiological characteristics (Segal, 1999a). A behavioral-genetic approach to the study of odor identification and preference can contribute substantially to our understanding of variation in normal and abnormal olfactory perception.
