Proust effect experiment
Experiment 1. The timing of scent memory
Scientists at Stockholm University have experimented. The Proust effect of "long memory for smells" was verified.
They selected 20 objects such as tobacco, tar, and beer, each of which could be presented as a word, a picture, or an odor. They presented 93 older people with cues containing one of these three presentation types. They were asked to relate these given cues to autobiographical events and to describe the emotions that arose during recall.
The results showed that autobiographical memories triggered by olfactory information were older than those associated with verbal and visual information. Most memories of odor cues were located in the first decade of life, i.e., childhood. In contrast, memories associated with verbal and visual cues peaked in early adulthood (aged 11–20 years).
Scientists at Stockholm University have experimented. The Proust effect of "long memory for smells" was verified.
They selected 20 objects such as tobacco, tar, and beer, each of which could be presented as a word, a picture, or an odor. They presented 93 older people with cues containing one of these three presentation types. They were asked to relate these given cues to autobiographical events and to describe the emotions that arose during recall.
The results showed that autobiographical memories triggered by olfactory information were older than those associated with verbal and visual information. Most memories of odor cues were located in the first decade of life, i.e., childhood. In contrast, memories associated with verbal and visual cues peaked in early adulthood (aged 11–20 years).
Distribution of autobiographical memories of odor cues across the life cycle
Experiment 2. The strength of scent memory
Rachel Herz, a psychologist at Brown University, carried out another experiment to verify the other side of the Proust effect. This experiment showed that scent-evoked memories are more emotionally charged and are associated with a strong sense of temporal retracing.
In this experiment, the cues used to trigger memories were grass, campfire, and popcorn. 70 healthy subjects were asked to rate the emotionality, evocativeness, vividness, and uniqueness of the memories.
First, the experimenter would show the subjects the text labels for these three prompts. Subjects are asked to present a relevant autobiographical memory and rate that memory.
Afterward, they can experience the sensory form of the item (smell, sight, hearing). The same memory was recalled again and the memory experience was re-evaluated.
The results of the experiment showed that when memory was presented in olfactory form, it was more emotional than when it was in verbal, visual, or auditory form. They are more immersive when the cue is presented in olfactory form.
Rachel Herz, a psychologist at Brown University, carried out another experiment to verify the other side of the Proust effect. This experiment showed that scent-evoked memories are more emotionally charged and are associated with a strong sense of temporal retracing.
In this experiment, the cues used to trigger memories were grass, campfire, and popcorn. 70 healthy subjects were asked to rate the emotionality, evocativeness, vividness, and uniqueness of the memories.
First, the experimenter would show the subjects the text labels for these three prompts. Subjects are asked to present a relevant autobiographical memory and rate that memory.
Afterward, they can experience the sensory form of the item (smell, sight, hearing). The same memory was recalled again and the memory experience was re-evaluated.
The results of the experiment showed that when memory was presented in olfactory form, it was more emotional than when it was in verbal, visual, or auditory form. They are more immersive when the cue is presented in olfactory form.
The mean of memory rating scales by cue form
