Abstract
Two paired-associate memory experiments were conducted to investigate verbal coding in olfactory versus nonolfactory cognition. Experiment 1 examined the effects of switching/not switching odors and visual items to words between encoding and test sessions. Experiment 2 examined switching/not switching perceptual odors and verbal-imagine versions of odors with each other. Experiment 1 showed that memory was impaired for odors but not visual cues when they were switched to their verbal form at test. Experiment 2 revealed that memory was impaired for both odors and verbal-imagine cues when they were switched in format at test and that odor sensory imagery was not accessed by the instruction to imagine a smell. Together, these findings suggest that olfaction is distinguished from other sensory systems by the degree of verbal coding involved in associated cognitive processing.
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This research was supported by grants from the Olfactory Research Fund. Chemical odorants and related supplies were generously donated by International Flavors and Fragrances.
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Herz, R.S. Verbal coding in olfactory versus nonolfactory cognition. Memory & Cognition 28, 957–964 (2000). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209343
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209343