Sex differences in odor identification ability: A cross-cultural analysis

https://doi.org/10.1016/0028-3932(85)90067-3Get rights and content

Abstract

To ascertain the generality of a sex difference noted in odor identification ability, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was administered to four groups of subjects: Black Americans (n=438), While Americans (n=1559), Korean Americans (n=106), and Native Japanese (n=308). The women of all groups outperformed the men to the same relative degree. The Korean American group performed better than the Black and White American groups, which, in turn, outperformed the Native Japanese. Analyses of the proportions of subjects correctly answering each of the test items revealed considerable similarity of relative item difficulty among the subject groups. Taken together, these data suggest that sex differences in odor identification ability are probably not due to ethnic or cultural factors, per se.

References (33)

  • J.F. Corso

    Age and sex differences in pure-tone thresholds

    Archs Otolar.

    (1963)
  • R.G. Davis

    The microencapsulation of odorants as a method of stimulus control and delivery in studies of odor quality perception

    Chem. Senses Flav.

    (1979)
  • D. Denno

    Sex differences in cognition: a review and critique of the longitudinal evidence

    Adolescence

    (1982)
  • R.L. Doty

    Gender and reproductive state correlates of taste perception in humans

  • R.L. Doty

    Gender and endocrine-ralated influences upon olfactory sensitivity

  • R.L. Doty et al.

    Human vaginal odors change in pleasantness and intensity during the human menstrual cycle

    Science

    (1975)
  • Cited by (264)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text