Working memory performance and exposure to pleasant and unpleasant ambient odor: Is spatial span special?

Influence of Ambient Odors on Time Perception in a Retrospective Paradigm

“…As phenyl ethyl alcohol and pyridine differ on hedonic valence (i.e., pleasant vs. unpleasant) and trigeminal activation (i.e., low vs. high) but not in perceived intensity, it can be suggested that this effect on accuracy was due to the presence of ambient odor without regard to odor characteristics. In contrast, research on the effect of pleasant and unpleasant odors on working memory performance (Martin & Chaudry, 2014) observed task- and gender-dependent differences in relation to the hedonic characteristics of the odor.…”

Influence of Ambient Odors on Time Perception in a Retrospective Paradigm

“…As phenyl ethyl alcohol and pyridine differ on hedonic valence (i.e., pleasant vs. unpleasant) and trigeminal activation (i.e., low vs. high) but not in perceived intensity, it can be suggested that this effect on accuracy was due to the presence of ambient odor without regard to odor characteristics. In contrast, research on the effect of pleasant and unpleasant odors on working memory performance (Martin & Chaudry, 2014) observed task- and gender-dependent differences in relation to the hedonic characteristics of the odor.…”

The effect of the rose essential oil aroma on university students’ learning and short-term memory: A randomized controlled trial

“…The effects of odor on memory and the hints it provides for remembering have been discussed for a long time. Studies of odor have indicated that different oils affect attention span, recall speed and quality [2,3,4], short-term memory [7] and image memory [6].…”

“…Kato et al (2012) analyzed the effects of the intermittent release of smells on cognitive motor performance and brain function during mental fatigue and found that smell was an effective means of maintaining the attention and reducing reaction times while performing a long-term task [2]. Martin and Chaudry (2014) reported that exposure to pleasant odors such as lemon had a positive effect on working memory, while exposure to bad odors such as machine oil reduced performance [4].…”

How A Cool Scent Sharpens the Mind: The Effect of Thermal Olfactory Cues on Performance

“…Extending this logic to olfaction, a recent study measuring electroencephalography (EEG) responses suggests that the peppermint scent, which is considered a cool scent, can affect cognitive performance, particularly when liked, though findings were based on a small sample (Tong et al 2025). Additionally, Martin and Chaudry (2014) found that individuals performed better on working memory tasks under a pleasant (lemon) scent compared to an unpleasant (machine oil) scent. While classified as a pleasant scent, lemon also carries coolness associations, which may explain its enhanced cognitive performance.…”

Influence of Ambient Odors on Time Perception in a Retrospective Paradigm

“…As phenyl ethyl alcohol and pyridine differ on hedonic valence (i.e., pleasant vs. unpleasant) and trigeminal activation (i.e., low vs. high) but not in perceived intensity, it can be suggested that this effect on accuracy was due to the presence of ambient odor without regard to odor characteristics. In contrast, research on the effect of pleasant and unpleasant odors on working memory performance (Martin & Chaudry, 2014) observed task- and gender-dependent differences in relation to the hedonic characteristics of the odor.…”

The effect of the rose essential oil aroma on university students’ learning and short-term memory: A randomized controlled trial

“…The effects of odor on memory and the hints it provides for remembering have been discussed for a long time. Studies of odor have indicated that different oils affect attention span, recall speed and quality [2,3,4], short-term memory [7] and image memory [6].…”

“…Kato et al (2012) analyzed the effects of the intermittent release of smells on cognitive motor performance and brain function during mental fatigue and found that smell was an effective means of maintaining the attention and reducing reaction times while performing a long-term task [2]. Martin and Chaudry (2014) reported that exposure to pleasant odors such as lemon had a positive effect on working memory, while exposure to bad odors such as machine oil reduced performance [4].…”

How A Cool Scent Sharpens the Mind: The Effect of Thermal Olfactory Cues on Performance

“…Extending this logic to olfaction, a recent study measuring electroencephalography (EEG) responses suggests that the peppermint scent, which is considered a cool scent, can affect cognitive performance, particularly when liked, though findings were based on a small sample (Tong et al 2025). Additionally, Martin and Chaudry (2014) found that individuals performed better on working memory tasks under a pleasant (lemon) scent compared to an unpleasant (machine oil) scent. While classified as a pleasant scent, lemon also carries coolness associations, which may explain its enhanced cognitive performance.…”

Influence of Ambient Odors on Time Perception in a Retrospective Paradigm

“…As phenyl ethyl alcohol and pyridine differ on hedonic valence (i.e., pleasant vs. unpleasant) and trigeminal activation (i.e., low vs. high) but not in perceived intensity, it can be suggested that this effect on accuracy was due to the presence of ambient odor without regard to odor characteristics. In contrast, research on the effect of pleasant and unpleasant odors on working memory performance (Martin & Chaudry, 2014) observed task- and gender-dependent differences in relation to the hedonic characteristics of the odor.…”

The effect of the rose essential oil aroma on university students’ learning and short-term memory: A randomized controlled trial

“…The effects of odor on memory and the hints it provides for remembering have been discussed for a long time. Studies of odor have indicated that different oils affect attention span, recall speed and quality [2,3,4], short-term memory [7] and image memory [6].…”

“…Kato et al (2012) analyzed the effects of the intermittent release of smells on cognitive motor performance and brain function during mental fatigue and found that smell was an effective means of maintaining the attention and reducing reaction times while performing a long-term task [2]. Martin and Chaudry (2014) reported that exposure to pleasant odors such as lemon had a positive effect on working memory, while exposure to bad odors such as machine oil reduced performance [4].…”

How A Cool Scent Sharpens the Mind: The Effect of Thermal Olfactory Cues on Performance

“…Extending this logic to olfaction, a recent study measuring electroencephalography (EEG) responses suggests that the peppermint scent, which is considered a cool scent, can affect cognitive performance, particularly when liked, though findings were based on a small sample (Tong et al 2025). Additionally, Martin and Chaudry (2014) found that individuals performed better on working memory tasks under a pleasant (lemon) scent compared to an unpleasant (machine oil) scent. While classified as a pleasant scent, lemon also carries coolness associations, which may explain its enhanced cognitive performance.…”