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Interference and facilitation in short-term memory for odors

Perception & Psychophysics volume 36, pages 508–514 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

This study investigated short-term memory for odors using a four-alternative, forced-choiced recognition paradigm. Stimuli were the odors of 36 common food substances. Twelve subjects were tested in each of four conditions, which differed in the activity performed during the retention interval. Recognition performance was poorest when subjects free associated to an additional odorant presented during the retention interval. Thus, interference from interpolated events does occur in odor memory. Recognition performance was best when the subjects free associated to the name of the target odorant during the retention interval. Thus, the memory code for odors may incorporate semantic information. Remembering odors appears, therefore, to be governed by the same principles as remembering stimuli in other modalities.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Queen’s, University at Kingston, K7L 3N6, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Heidi A. Walk & Elizabeth E. Johns

Authors
  1. Heidi A. Walk
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  2. Elizabeth E. Johns
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Additional information

This article is based on a thesis submitted by the senior author to the Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, in partial fulfillment of the requirments for the B. A. (Honours) degree. This research was supported by grants from the Queen’s University Advisory Research Committee and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (A0440) to the junior author.

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Walk, H.A., Johns, E.E. Interference and facilitation in short-term memory for odors. Perception & Psychophysics 36, 508–514 (1984). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207510

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207510

Keywords

  • Recognition Memory
  • Retention Interval
  • Recognition Test
  • Semantic Information
  • Memory Item