Memory Aromatherapy

People use aromatherapy candles to relax but now researchers at the University of Lubeck have found that that the scent of a rose may improve memory. Jan Born and his colleagues performed a study in which subjects were exposed to the smell of a rose one evening while they learned the location of picture cards. Half of the participants were then exposed to the scent of a rose again when they were sleeping and the other half were not exposed to any scent. The participants were tested the next day on what they learned the day before and those who were exposed to the rose scent actually had a better recall percentage than those who were not exposed to anything while sleeping (97% Vs. 86%). It should also be noted that exposure to the order during the test phase did not show any increase in recall. The researchers believe that no effect was found because the hippocampus is more sensitive when we are sleeping.

This research supports the theory that we strengthen our new memories while we sleep. These new memories are first in our hippocampus and are then reactivated and transferred to the cortex while we are sleeping. The memory of smells are said to have a very strong effect on the hippocampus which is why Born and his colleagues thought that odor could help strengthen reactivation and make the transfer of these memories to long-term memory more effective.

Now don’t run to get rose scented candles from the store just yet. This is more complicated than it sounds. The participants of this study were exposed to the scent during slow-wave sleep, which is when the hippocampus is triggered into reactivating memories. The odor was also not given continuously to get the desired memory effect because we get accustomed to odor quickly. Consequently, it would be very hard to recreate this study at home without expensive equipment and assistance. The type of task being learned while using this odor technique is also important factor. The only memories that were strengthened were those that depend on the hippocampus. This means that no skill based memories will be strengthened.

I thought that this article was very interesting. It would also be interesting to see if the pleasantness of the odor influences recall. I think that an unpleasant odor like the one of garbage would be much more memorable and thus improve recall. I would also like to see if the potency of the odor influences recall as well.


The article can be found here:
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070305/full/070305-10.html