Olfactory Language: Context Is Everything

Olofsson, Jonas; Pierzchajlo, Stephen

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.004

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Some studies have found that verbalization (i.e., the application of verbal labels to odors) may improve odor memory [ 19 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], but some have not [ 16 , 18 , 34 ]. Moreover, some researchers have argued that high level cognition is important for olfactory processing [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Novelty Detection Important in Long-Term Odor Memory?

Cameron

Köster²,

Møller³

2021

Brain Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Memory for odors is believed to be longer-lasting than memory for visual stimuli, as is evidenced by flat forgetting curves. However, performance on memory tasks is typically weaker in olfaction than vision. Studies of odor memory that use forced-choice methods confound responses that are a result of a trace memory and responses that can be obtained through process of elimination. Moreover, odor memory is typically measured with common stimuli, which are more familiar and responses may be confounded by verbal memory, and measure memory in intentional learning conditions, which are ecologically questionable. Here we demonstrate the value of using tests of memory in which hit rate and correct rejection rate are evaluated separately (i.e., not using forced-choice methods) and uncommon stimuli are used. This study compared memory for common and uncommon odors and pictures that were learned either intentionally (Exp. 1) or incidentally (Exp. 2) and tested with either a forced-choice or a one-stimulus-at-a-time (“monadic”) recognition task after delays of 15 min, 48 h or 1 week. As expected, memory declined with delay in most conditions, but depended upon the particular measure of memory and was better for pictures than odors and for common than uncommon stimuli. For common odors, hit rates decreased with delay but correct rejection rates remained constant with delay. For common pictures, we found the opposite result, constant hit rates and decreased correct rejection rates. Our results support the ‘misfit theory of conscious olfactory perception’, which highlights the importance of the detection of novelty in olfactory memory and suggests that olfactory memory should be studied using more ecologically valid methods.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Novelty Detection Important in Long-Term Odor Memory?

Cameron

Köster²,

Møller³

2021

Brain Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our ways of perceiving and processing smells make us badly equipped to identify and name smells in general, while the nature of the olfactory environment makes picking up on commonalities and using abstract olfactory concepts less adaptive [85]. Instead of being surprised that abstraction in the olfactory domain is comparatively limited, what seems more surprising is that abstract linguistic labels are used at all, or even more frequently than concrete ones [69].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Olfactory abstraction: a communicative and metacognitive account

Deroy

2022

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The usual puzzle raised about olfaction is that of a deficit of abstraction: smells, by contrast notably with colours, do not easily lend themselves to abstract categories and labels. Some studies have argued that the puzzle is culturally restricted and that abstraction is more common outside urban Western societies. Here, I argue that the puzzle is misconstrued and should be reversed: given that odours are constantly changing and that their commonalities are difficult for humans to identify, what is surprising is not that abstract terms are rare, but that they should be used at all for olfaction. Given the nature of the olfactory environment and our cognitive equipment, concrete labels referring to sources seem most adaptive. To explain the use and presence of abstract terms, we need to examine their social and communicative benefits. Here these benefits are spelt out as securing a higher agreement among individuals varying in their olfactory experiences as well as the labels they use, as well as feeling a heightened sense of confidence in one's naming capacities. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Concepts in interaction: social engagement and inner experiences’.

show abstract

“…For example, umami, the fth primary taste in European taste tests, tends to be de ned as salty or sweet (Müller et al, 2011), while Japanese are more familiar with umami foods such as dashi (Satoh-Kuriwada et al, 2014). Second, with respect to smell imagery, the in uence of Covid-19 is possible (c.f., Olofsson & Pierzchajlo, 2021). Compared to 2014, when data were taken from a British sample, in 2022, when data were taken from a Japanese sample, people were permanently wearing masks to prevent the spread of infection.…”

Section: Cultural Comparison Of Multisensory Imagery Abilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing and Validating a Japanese Version of the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q)

Hitsuwari

Nomura

2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mental imagery refers to the representation of stimuli that are not physically present and has long been a subject of interest in psychology. Despite this, most of the research on mental imagery has been limited to visual images, with other types of imagery, such as sound and smell, receiving limited attention. A possible reason for this is the lack of appropriate scales to measure vividness of multisensory imagery. The Plymouth Sensory Imagery Scale (Psi-Q) has been developed to address this issue and has been used in several studies to measure the vividness of seven imagery: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, body, and feeling. In this study of 400 participants in Japan, the Psi-Q was translated and tested for reliability and validity. Results showed good internal reliability and retest reliability, moderate to high correlations with other measures of construct validity, including mindfulness, Big Five, and life satisfaction. Additionally, there is no significant difference in total Psi-Q scores between the Japanese and British samples, although some differences were found in individual sensory imagery abilities. The study provides valuable insights into multisensory mental imagery and it is expected that research dealing simultaneously with the responses of multisensory modalities will further accumulate.

show abstract

Olfactory Language: Context Is Everything

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

Is Novelty Detection Important in Long-Term Odor Memory?

Is Novelty Detection Important in Long-Term Odor Memory?

Olfactory abstraction: a communicative and metacognitive account

Developing and Validating a Japanese Version of the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About