ArticlePsychological research2023
Olfactory imagery as a retrieval method for autobiographical memories.
Article in Psychological research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Unfolding Nostalgia: Spatial Visualization, Nostalgia, and Well-Being.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- A Human EEG Dataset for Multisensory Perception and Mental Imagery.Scientific data · 2025Article
- Comparing episodic memory outcomes from walking augmented reality and stationary virtual reality encoding experiences.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- fNIRS a novel neuroimaging tool to investigate olfaction, olfactory imagery, and crossmodal interactions: a systematic review.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024Review
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe retrieval of autobiographical memories is influenced by several factors, such as sensory modality and the emotional salience of memory cues. This study aimed at investigating the interaction between sensory modalities (olfaction, vision) and emotional dimensions (valence, arousal) of imagery cues, on the frequency, quality, and age distribution of the autobiographical memories (AMs) elicited.
methodA total of 296 females (aged between 18 and 35 years) received one out of eight brief instructions for olfactory or visual imagery. The participants were asked to create a mental image with either high arousal/positive valence, high arousal/negative valence, low arousal/positive valence, or low arousal/negative valence (e.g., 'imagine an unpleasant and arousing odor/scene'); no specific stimulus was mentioned in the instruction.
resultsThe approach used elicited imagery with autobiographical content in the majority of participants (78%). In terms of frequency, odor imagery, compared to visual imagery, turned out to be more effective at retrieving either unpleasant memories associated with experiences in adulthood, or pleasant childhood memories. In terms of quality, the imagery was rated as less vivid in the olfactory compared to the visual condition (irrespective of valence and arousal of the imagery instruction). Visual imagery was associated with the experience of more diverse emotions (happiness, sadness, anxiety, anger) than odor imagery, which was related primarily with disgust and happiness.
conclusionOur findings indicate that nonspecific imagery induction is a useful approach in accessing AM. IMPLICATION: This approach presents promising clinical applications, such as in working with autobiographical memory narratives in psychotherapy.
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