Left posterior orbitofrontal cortex is associated with odor-induced autobiographical memory: an fmri study
Open accessAbstract
Autobiographical odor memory (AM-odor) accompanied by a sense of realism of a specific memory elicits strong emotions. AM-odor differs from memory triggered by other sensory modalities, possibly because olfaction involves a unique sensory process. Here, we examined the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine which OFC subregions are related to AM-odor. Both AM-odor and a control odor successively increased subjective ratings of comfortableness and pleasantness. Importantly, AM-odor also increased arousal levels and the vividness of memories, and was associated with a deep and slow breathing pattern. fMRI analysis indicated robust activation in the left posterior OFC (L-POFC). Connectivity between the POFC and whole brain regions was estimated using psychophysiological interaction analysis (PPI). We detected several trends in connectivity between L-POFC and bilateral precuneus, bilateral rostral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (rdACC), and left parahippocampus, which will be useful for targeting our hypotheses for future investigations. The slow breathing observed in AM-odor was correlated with rdACC activation. Odor associated with emotionally significant autobiographical memories was accompanied by slow and deep breathing, possibly involving rdACC processing.
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The orbitofrontal cortex is involved in processing associative olfactory learning memory in mice and odor-evoked memory in humans.
“the orbitofrontal cortex is involved in processing associative olfactory learning memory in mice and odor-evoked memory in humans [60–63].”
From Positive early-life olfactory memory is rooted in the olfactory bulb and triggers large-scale changes beyond the olfactory system (2026) · cites this paper as [63]
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- Authors
- Watanabe, K., Masaoka, Y., Kawamura, M., Yoshida, M., Koiwa, N., Yoshikawa, A., Kubota, S., Ida, M., Ono, K., & Izumizaki, M.
- Affiliations
- SHOWA Medical University (JP)
- Jikei University School of Medicine (JP)
- University of Human Arts and Sciences (JP)
- Ebara Hospital (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Masaoka, Yuri
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2018-05-11
- Volume
- 9
- Pages
- 687-687
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5958215
- OpenAlex
- W2800001511
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Monash University
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (15K00210, 17K01482, 25119006, 16H05443, 17K13069, 18H05525)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- autobiographical memory, olfactory memory, olfaction, orbitofrontal cortex, precuneus, parahippocampal gyrus, psychophysiological interaction, slow deep breathing, memory vividness, emotional arousal
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