Olfactory System

Scherer, Hans; Quast, A.

doi:10.1016/b0-08-043076-7/03478-1

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…While we already know that many animals such as ants (Steck 2012 ; Steck et al 2009 ), dogs, and rats (Rossier and Schenk 2003 ) enrich their cognitive map of the environment with olfactory landmarks to improve spatial orientation, we do not yet know to which extent people benefit from using smell and olfactory cues for navigation. Besides all the classic functions of the olfactory system, which serve mainly self-preservation, such as monitoring the safety of inhaled air (Pence et al 2014 ), enabling individuals to recognize food, assess its quality (Yeomans 2006 ), and receive warning signals (e.g., burnt smell or poisonous elements; Scherer and Quast 2001 ), the research in this field proposes that the sense of smell originally evolved to support spatial orientation and navigation (Dahmani et al 2018 ) and, therefore, “has a major effect on how we perceive and navigate the world” (Huber et al 2022 , p.1). Jacobs’ ( 2012 ) olfactory spatial hypothesis inspired studies of human spatial orientation using odors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Memory effects of visual and olfactory landmark information in human wayfinding

Schwarz,

Hamburger

2023

Cogn Process

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Non-human animals are exceptionally good at using smell to find their way through the environment. However, the use of olfactory cues for human navigation is often underestimated. Although the sense of smell is well-known for its distinct connection to memory and emotion, memory effects in human navigation using olfactory landmarks have not been studied yet. Therefore, this article compares wayfinding and recognition performance for visual and olfactory landmarks learned by 52 participants in a virtual maze. Furthermore, it is one of the first empirical studies investigating differences in memory effects on human navigation by using two separate test situations 1 month apart. The experimental task was to find the way through a maze-like virtual environment with either olfactory or visual cues at the intersections that served as decision points. Our descriptive results show that performance was above chance level for both conditions (visual and olfactory landmarks). Wayfinding performance did not decrease 1 month later when using olfactory landmarks. In contrast, when using visual landmarks wayfinding performance decreased significantly, while visual landmarks overall lead to better recognition than olfactory landmarks at both times of testing. The results demonstrate the unique character of human odor memory and support the conclusion that olfactory cues may be used in human spatial orientation. Furthermore, the present study expands the research field of human wayfinding by providing a study that investigates memory for landmark knowledge and route decisions for the visual and olfactory modality. However, more studies are required to put this important research strand forward.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Memory effects of visual and olfactory landmark information in human wayfinding

Schwarz,

Hamburger

2023

Cogn Process

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“…The impact of olfactory information on our behavior is commonly accepted in society ( Degel and Köster, 1999 ). Nevertheless, to date there has been limited research studying this influence, as research has long credited the human olfactory system with only its classical functions for self-preservation [finding food ( Yeomans, 2006 ) or perceiving warning signals ( Scherer and Quast, 2001 )]. For a long time, humans were even considered anosmatic, as suggested by Broca (1879) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding

Schwarz,

Hamburger

2023

Front. Psychol.

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Despite the predominant focus on visual perception in most studies, the role of humans’ sense of smell in navigation has often been neglected. Recent research, however, could show that humans are indeed able to use their sense of smell for orientation, particularly when processed implicitly. In this study, we investigate whether implicit perception of olfactory landmarks enhanced wayfinding performance compared to explicit perception. Fifty-two people completed a wayfinding and a recognition task in a virtual maze at two times of testing 1 month apart. Participants either received olfactory, visual, or both cues at the intersections. Wayfinding performance was better for olfactory landmarks, which were not correctly remembered in the recognition task. In contrast, wayfinding performance was better when visual landmarks were correctly remembered. In the multimodal condition, wayfinding performance was better with landmarks being remembered at t1 and remained the same at t2. Our results suggest distinct implicit processing mechanisms within the olfactory system and therefore hold important implications for the nature of spatial odor processing extending beyond explicit odor localization tasks. The study highlights the importance for future studies to develop and employ further experimental methods that capture implicit processing across all of our senses. This is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of consciousness, as olfaction strongly influences our behavior, but remains largely latent unless deliberately honed through practice.

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Olfactory System

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Memory effects of visual and olfactory landmark information in human wayfinding

Memory effects of visual and olfactory landmark information in human wayfinding

Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding

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