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Abstract

Whether a system of imagery for olfaction exists is currently an unsettled issue. Moreover, the dimensions underlying odor perception have eluded researchers for many years. Two experiments bearing on these issues are presented. In one experiment, a group of 32 undergraduates rated the similarity of pairs of 16 commonplace odorants (e.g., chocolate and leather) they perceived using scratch and sniff stimuli; in another, a different group of 44 undergraduates was asked to imagine and then rate the similarity of the same pairs of odors. Multidimensional scaling of the data suggests that three-dimensional solutions with similar stimulus dimensions, such as fruitiness, strength, and familiarity, underlied the ratings of both perceived and imagined odors. By finding that similar dimensions define the psychological space of both the imagery and the perception tasks, this study suggests that imagery does indeed exist for olfaction.

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to know if humans truly possess "olfactory imagery"—the ability to imagine smells in the mind's eye (or nose)—and whether these mental smells share the same characteristics as real ones. They also looked for the specific "dimensions" we use to categorize smells, such as how fruity or strong they are.

How They Studied It

The study involved two main experiments with university students. In the first group, 32 participants smelled 16 real scents (like chocolate, leather, and gasoline) and rated how similar they were to one another. In the second group, 44 different participants were asked to simply imagine those same 16 smells and rate their similarities. The researchers then used a statistical technique called "multidimensional scaling" to map out how these scents were organized in the participants' minds, comparing the map of real smells to the map of imagined ones.

What They Found

The study found that the "mental maps" for real smells and imagined smells were remarkably similar. Both groups organized smells based on three main factors: how fruity they were, how strong they were, and how familiar they were. Because the structure of the imagined smells so closely matched the structure of the real ones, the researchers concluded that olfactory imagery is a real phenomenon that functions much like actual perception.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that when we imagine a smell, our brains use the same underlying "filing system" as when we actually sniff something. It supports the idea that imagery isn't just a vague memory but a structured sensory experience. However, the study also noted that people are generally poor at naming smells, even when they can imagine or perceive them clearly, suggesting that our "smell vocabulary" is much weaker than our "smell imagery."

One Interesting Detail

The researchers found a nearly perfect correlation between how "pleasant" a real smell was and how "irritating" an imagined smell was. This suggests that when we think a smell is "pleasant," we might actually just be noticing that it doesn't sting or irritate our nose.

Olfactory perception and olfactory imagery: A multidimensional analysis.

Abstract

Authors

Olfactory perception and olfactory imagery: A multidimensional analysis.

Abstract

Authors

Olfactory perception and olfactory imagery: A multidimensional analysis.

Abstract

Authors

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

Olfactory perception and olfactory imagery: A multidimensional analysis.

Abstract

Authors

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

What This Study Is About

How They Studied It

What They Found

What This Might Mean

One Interesting Detail

Joel Pearson

Merlin Monzel

Adam Zeman

Rebecca Keogh

Martin Reuter

Juha Silvanto

Carla Dance

Paolo Bartolomeo

Jianghao Liu

Fraser Milton

Joel Pearson

Merlin Monzel

Adam Zeman

Rebecca Keogh

Martin Reuter

Juha Silvanto

Carla Dance

Paolo Bartolomeo

Jianghao Liu

Fraser Milton