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Olfactory awareness is positively associated to odour memory
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
2011 (English)In: Journal of Cognitive Psychology, ISSN 2044-5911, E-ISSN 2044-592X, Vol. 23, no 2, p. 220-226Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

We investigated the relationship between olfactory awareness and olfactory proficiency as determined by a set of standardised olfactory tasks. Olfactory awareness was indexed by scores in questionnaires focusing on odour interest, imagery ability, and prevalence of olfactory dreams. Nineteen subjects with high and 20 subjects with low odour awareness were presented with a set of standardised olfactory tasks: odour threshold, episodic odour recognition, and odour identification. The results showed that individuals with high odour awareness excelled in odour memory and identified more odours as compared with the low awareness group. Interestingly, odour naming ability exerted no influence on odour memory. Furthermore, high odour awareness was not related to a more sensitive olfactory sensory system as determined by olfactory threshold measurements.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2011. Vol. 23, no 2, p. 220-226
Keywords [en]
dreams, imagery, odour awareness, odour memory
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-68656DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2011.483226ISI: 000288940500004OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-68656DiVA, id: diva2:473647
Note

authorCount :3

Available from: 2012-01-06 Created: 2012-01-04 Last updated: 2022-02-24Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Olfactory Cognition: The Case of Olfactory Imagery
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Olfactory Cognition: The Case of Olfactory Imagery
2013 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The capacity to form olfactory images has received less attention than the formation of visual and auditory images. The evidence in favor of such ability is also inconsistent. This thesis explored some of the characteristics of olfactory imagery through three empirical studies. Study I investigated the effects of blocking spontaneous sniffing during olfactory imagery. The results indicated that the prevention of spontaneous sniffing reduced olfactory but not visual imagery capacity. Study II studied the relation between olfactory awareness (as indexed by olfactory dreams, olfactory imagery, and olfactory interest) and olfactory functions (i.e., odor threshold, episodic odor memory, and odor identification). The main findings were that compared to low, high olfactory awareness was associated with better episodic odor memory and identification, but not with higher olfactory sensitivity. Study III investigated the neural correlates of odor evoked autobiographical memories (OEAMs) as (a) a function of cue modality (i.e., odors and their verbal referents), and (b) a function of memory remoteness. The results from Study III showed that OEAMs activated regions generally associated with autobiographical memory. In addition, verbally cued OEAMs were associated with activity linked to olfactory imagery. Odor cues activated the limbic and temporal polar regions more than verbal cues; a result that may explain the phenomenological differences found between the cued memories. Moreover, OEAMs from the first decade of life were associated with higher activity in the secondary olfactory cortex, whereas memories from young adulthood were related to areas linked to semantic memory processing. Taken together these studies favor the notion of a human capacity to form olfactory images. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, 2013. p. 73
Keywords
Olfactory imagery, sniffing, olfactory awareness, odor threshold, episodic odor memory, odor identification, odor evoked autobiographical memory, fMRI
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-88413 (URN)978-91-7447-661-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2013-04-26, David Magnussonsalen (U31), Frescati Hagväg 8, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2013-04-04 Created: 2013-03-14 Last updated: 2022-02-24Bibliographically approved

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Arshamian, ArtinWillander, JohanLarsson, Maria

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