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Open research questions in Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies

480 gap statements mined from Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,744 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The need to capture full-length isoforms. The challenge of evaluating the cellular relevance of isoform expression at single-cell resolution.

    Single-cell long-read profiling of olfactory sensory neuron differentiation and diversity · 2026 · DOI

  • The transcriptional regulation of the MOE by environmental olfactory exposures is not well understood. Prior studies have not investigated the effects of specific types of environmental stimulation on the diverse cell types found in the mouse MOE. The study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the effects of environmental stimulation on the MOE.

    Transcriptional regulation of the main olfactory epithelium by environmental olfactory exposures · 2026 · DOI

  • A limitation of this study is the absence of a saline placebo arm. By assuming outcome stability following dropout, LOCF does not account for the inherent uncertainty or potential variability in subsequent 4705 values.

    Effect of intranasal vitamin A nanoparticles on persistent olfactory dysfunction: a randomized clinical trial · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should prioritise understanding the intricate connections between air pollution and AD, addressing gaps in mechanistic understanding and public health responses. Longitudinal studies are essential to monitor air pollution exposure and cognitive outcomes over extended periods.

    The Role of Air Pollution and Olfactory Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should explore these mechanisms further, particularly the role of inflammation, medication, and compensatory strategies in modulating cognitive function in CRS patients.

    Tailoring Evaluations of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: Understanding Sleep and Its Effect on Memory Through Actigraphy · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited research on the effectiveness of olfactory-based memory training for older adults with subjective cognitive decline. Lack of comparison between olfactory-based and visually-based memory training protocols. Need for investigation of the potential benefits of olfactory-based memory training for cognitive decline.

    Mind your nose: A randomized controlled trial of olfactory‐based memory training for older people with subjective cognitive decline · 2025 · DOI

  • There is a noticeable gap in consumer perception studies regarding technological innovations in the fresh meat industry. The study identifies a lack of research on the acceptance of innovative and sustainable solutions designed to extend the shelf life of fresh meat. The gap exists in understanding the factors that drive consumers' acceptance of these innovations.

    Balancing Freshness and Sustainability: Charting a Course for Meat Industry Innovation and Consumer Acceptance · 2024 · DOI

  • The lack of effective perception technologies for berry fruit-picking robots. The need for improved harvesting efficiency and reduced fruit damage. The challenge of developing robots that can handle fragile and delicate berries.

    A Review of Perception Technologies for Berry Fruit-Picking Robots: Advantages, Disadvantages, Challenges, and Prospects · 2024 · DOI

  • One challenge is the complexity of olfactory pathways and limited therapeutic options for OD. Another challenge is the variation in PRP preparation and administration procedures, which may affect the final therapeutic qualities of PRP. The paper also notes the challenge of disease transmission and immunogenic reactions associated with heterologous PRP.

    Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the Treatment of Long COVID Olfactory Disorders: A Comprehensive Review · 2024 · DOI

  • Researchers: Scientists involved with ototoxic research can easily identify potential and possible ototoxicants that have critical data gaps. Exposure histories can be cross-referenced with tables to identify potential ototoxic risks, as well as other associated effects. This cross-referencing can facilitate the understating of the underlying mechanisms of toxicity.

    Which Environmental Pollutants Are Toxic to Our Ears?—Evidence of the Ototoxicity of Common Substances · 2024 · DOI

  • The study supports the potential value of olfactory rehabilitation using a multidisciplinary approach, while the specific contributions of individual therapeutic components remain to be established.

    Classical and Speech Therapy Olfactory Training in the Treatment of COVID-19–Related Olfactory Disorders · 2026 · DOI

  • As in previous studies, the odor identification ability increased with age, although this has not been tested in age groups as young as those in the present study.

    Comparison of two olfactory tests in young children: A study of crayon sniffing (C-Sniff) and short U-Sniff (qU-Sniff) · 2026 · DOI

  • Hybrid approaches combining digital guidance for sensory gain and self-directed elements for psychological benefit should be explored to optimize holistic patient outcomes.

    Adherence as a mediator of olfactory improvement in digitally-guided versus text-based olfactory training · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the functional roles of Lgr5⁺ cells in the OE have not been thoroughly explored.

    Lgr5 positive stem cells sustain homeostasis and drive regeneration of the nasal septum olfactory epithelium · 2026 · DOI

  • Previous high-throughput molecular profiling identified finer classes, but their morphology, projection patterns, and downstream convergence remain unclear.

    Molecularly defined olfactory bulb output neurons exhibit selective yet overlapping projections · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which pollutant particles damage the BBB and induce AD neuropathology remain unclear.

    The Role of Air Pollution and Olfactory Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should explore the relaxation of different species of wood, such as pine, cedar, cypress, and oak, in indoor spaces. Future research should consider extending the study period to gain more comprehensive insights.

    The Effects of Prolonged Indoor Inhalation of Nature-Derived Odors on Menopausal Women · 2024 · DOI

  • The impact of age-associated chemosensory dysfunction upon taste and olfaction is well described, but an understanding of trigeminal loss (chemesthesis) is lacking.

    Intranasal Trigeminal Function in Aging Adults · 2024 · DOI

  • Furthermore, vestibular-specific dizziness is rarely investigated, and our review identified only one study associating workplace exposure to lead, toluene, and carbon monoxide with tinnitus.

    Which Environmental Pollutants Are Toxic to Our Ears?—Evidence of the Ototoxicity of Common Substances · 2024 · DOI

  • BackgroundOlfactory dysfunction (OD) is both under-recognized and underdiagnosed in aging adults.

    Utility of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements in Age-Related Olfactory Dysfunction · 2025 · DOI

  • Further investigation of the effects of environmental olfactory exposures on the MOE, - Analysis of the functional significance of the differentially expressed genes, - Investigation of the effects of other types of environmental stimulation…

    Transcriptional regulation of the main olfactory epithelium by environmental olfactory exposures · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the roles of ORs in other types of cancer, - Exploring the potential of ORs as therapeutic targets, - Further studying the mechanisms of ORs in tumor…

    Multi-omics profiling identifies ectopic olfactory receptors as putative drivers of tumor progression and prognostic indicators in clear cell renal cell carcinoma · 2026 · DOI

  • Our findings indicate that, while significant progress has been achieved in the harvesting of fruits…

    Research Progress and Trend Analysis of Picking Technology for Korla Fragrant Pear · 2025 · DOI

  • Improving the detection ability of berry fruit-picking robots - Overcoming the challenges of perception technologies - Exploring alternative harvesting methods - Improving the accuracy of grape cluster…

    A Review of Perception Technologies for Berry Fruit-Picking Robots: Advantages, Disadvantages, Challenges, and Prospects · 2024 · DOI

  • Well-designed, controlled trials are needed to refine treatment protocols and more definitively ascertain the efficacy of PRP - Studies should investigate the effects of PRP on different types of olfactory…

    Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the Treatment of Long COVID Olfactory Disorders: A Comprehensive Review · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The transcriptional regulation of the MOE by environmental olfactory exposures is not well understood (“Transcriptional regulation of the main olfactory epithelium by environmental…”, 2026); (2) The study supports the potential value of olfactory rehabilitation using a multidisciplinary approach, while the specific contributions of individual therapeutic components remain to be established (“Classical and Speech Therapy Olfactory Training in the Treatment of…”, 2026); (3) The functional roles of Lgr5⁺ cells in the OE have not been thoroughly explored (“Lgr5 positive stem cells sustain homeostasis and drive regeneration of the…”, 2026); (4) Previous high-throughput molecular profiling identified finer classes, but their morphology, projection patterns, and downstream convergence remain unclear (“Molecularly defined olfactory bulb output neurons exhibit selective yet…”, 2026); (5) Future research should prioritise understanding the intricate connections between air pollution and AD, addressing gaps in mechanistic understanding and public health responses (“The Role of Air Pollution and Olfactory Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease…”, 2025). 480 gap statements have been mined from Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,744 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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