APA Dictionary of Psychology

a 40-item test of odor-identification ability for individuals ages 5 years and older. It is used to assess olfactory sensitivity and diagnose or evaluate olfactory impairment, which has been recognized as an important clinical indicator of neurological and psychiatric disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease). Test participants scratch and sniff a scent-impregnated patch and then identify the odor from a list of four answer choices, repeating the procedure for all 40 test stimuli. A brief version of the test (B–SIT) using 12 odorant stimuli determines gross dysfunction of olfactory sensitivity. Also called University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). [developed by U.S. psychologist Richard L. Doty (1944–  )]