Modulation of Cognitive Performance and Mood by Aromas of Peppermint and Ylang-Ylang

Abstract

This study provides further evidence for the impact of the aromas of plant essential oils on aspects of cognition and mood in healthy participants. One hundred and forty four volunteers were randomly assigned to conditions of Ylang-Ylang aroma, Peppermint aroma, or no aroma control. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cognitive Drug Research computerised assessment battery, with mood scales completed before and after cognitive testing. The analysis of the data revealed significant differences between conditions on a number of the factors underpinning the tests that constitute the battery.Peppermint was found to enhance memory whereas Ylang-Ylang impaired it, and lengthened processing speed. In terms of subjective mood Peppermint increased alertness and Ylang-Ylang decreased it, but significantly increased calmness. These results provide support for the contention that the aromas of essential oils can produce significant and idiosyncratic effects on both subjective and objective assessments of aspects of human behaviour. They are discussed with reference to possible pharmacological and psychological modes of influence.2

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“…Mood assessments were also significantly affected, with rosemary producing increased alertness and contentedness. Further to this, Moss and colleagues found that peppermint aroma resulted in significantly improved quality of memory when compared to ylang-ylang aroma and a no aroma control group [14]. These findings were found not to be associated with changes in mood measurements.…”

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“…Moreover, we aim to explore how the cognitive performance of the students is impacted by an incongruent olfactory design. This is motivated by interesting results that showed how memory was enhanced in the presence of the peppermint smell [41] as well as by our previous work [22]. Another interesting approach in designing the olfactory feedback would be to take into account crossmodal associations existent between modalities (e.g., deliver a citric smell corresponding to the hexagonal design of the map) [51].…”