Memory Tests with Ambient Odours "Make Scents"

Abstract: An ambient odour of anise was used in a context-dependent memory study with three different memory tasks targeting both declarative and non-declarative memory functions. Declarative memory was assessed by means of two episodic memory tests; recall of a prose text and a complex figure. Priming was used to assess the non-declarative memory with word fragment completion. Memory was tested immediately and after 48 hours. The results showed a significant main effect of context (odour or not) for all three tests in favour of the olfactory context. In addition, a significant main effect of time was observed for all three tests and a significant interaction effect between context and time for the priming test were observed. This interaction showed that the priming effect was equal in size across both conditions at immediate testing, although when the odour was reinstated at the delayed test the results showed larger priming relative the control condition.