An alexithymic individual has difficulty, to a greater or lesser degree, in relating to emotions. New research seeks to shed light on new aspects of the condition using olfactory tests. The results demonstrate that one of the characteristics of alexithymia is the altered physiological response to olfactory stimuli. The tests also showed that there are differences in reactions between subjects characterized by affective alexithymia and those with cognitive alexithymia, which compromises the ability to identify, express and distinguish emotions.
