The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health
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This article discusses the special features of odor-evoked memory and the current state-of-the-art in odor-evoked memory research to show how these unique experiences may be able to influence and benefit psychological and physiological health. A review of the literature leads to the conclusion that odors that evoke positive autobiographical memories have the potential to increase positive emotions, decrease negative mood states, disrupt cravings, and reduce physiological indices of stress, including systemic markers of inflammation. Olfactory perception factors and individual difference characteristics that would need to be considered in therapeutic applications of odor-evoked-memory are also discussed. This article illustrates how through the experimentally validated mechanisms of odor-associative learning and the privileged neuroanatomical relationship that exists between olfaction and the neural substrates of emotion, odors can be harnessed to induce emotional and physiological responses that can improve human health and wellbeing.
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Olfactory cues make memories more emotional and evocative compared to other sensory stimuli.
“olfactory cues makes memories more emotional and evocative if compared to other sensory stimuli”
From The scent of emotions: A systematic review of human intra‐ and interspecific chemical communication of emotions (2020) · cites this paper as Herz, 2016
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“A number of behavioral studies demonstrated that olfactory cues makes memories more emotional and evocative if compared to other sensory stimuli (Herz, 2016; Herz, Eliassen, Beland, & Souza, 2004).”
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Neuropeptide S Displays as a Key Neuromodulator in Olfactory Spatial Memory
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Olfactory Dysfunction following COVID-19 and the Potential Benefits of Olfactory Training
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Harvesting Context and Mining Emotions Related to Olfactory Cultural Heritage
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- Authors
- Herz, R.
- Affiliations
- Brown University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Herz, Rachel
- ORCID
- Herz, Rachel
- Venue
- Brain Sciences
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2016-07-19
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 22
- ISSN
- 2076-3425 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5039451
- OpenAlex
- W2499062966
- Cited by
- 310
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 1.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Brain Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Nostalgia and Consumer Behavior
- Keywords
- olfactory memory, autobiographical memory, olfactory associative learning, inflammation, craving, mood, positive emotions, olfactory perception, individual differences, well-being
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