Essential Oil of Lavender Inhibited the Decreased Attention during a Long-Term Task in Humans

Kuniyoshi SHIMIZU; Mayumi GYOKUSEN; Shingo KITAMURA; Takahiro KAWABE; Tomoaki KOZAKI; Keita ISHIBASHI; Ryusuke IZUMI; Wataru MIZUNOYA; Koichiro OHNUKI; Ryuichiro KONDO

doi:10.1271/bbb.70835

Food & Nutrition Science Notes

Essential Oil of Lavender Inhibited the Decreased Attention during a Long-Term Task in Humans

Kuniyoshi SHIMIZU, Mayumi GYOKUSEN, Shingo KITAMURA, Takahiro KAWABE, Tomoaki KOZAKI, Keita ISHIBASHI, Ryusuke IZUMI, Wataru MIZUNOYA, Koichiro OHNUKI, Ryuichiro KONDO

Author information

Kuniyoshi SHIMIZU
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University
Mayumi GYOKUSEN
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University
Shingo KITAMURA
User Science Institute, Kyushu University
Takahiro KAWABE
Organization for the Promotion of Advanced Research, Kyushu University
Tomoaki KOZAKI
User Science Institute, Kyushu University
Keita ISHIBASHI
Faculty of Design, Kyushu University
Ryusuke IZUMI
Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University
Wataru MIZUNOYA
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University
Koichiro OHNUKI
User Science Institute, Kyushu University
Ryuichiro KONDO
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University

Keywords: natural volatile, attention, vigilance, Lavendula angustifolia (lavender), essential oil

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2008 Volume 72 Issue 7 Pages 1944-1947

DOI https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.70835

View "Advance Publication" version (July 7, 2008).

Details

Abstract

This study examined the effects of odors on sustained attention during a vigilance task. Two essential oils (lavender and eucalyptus) and two materials (l-menthol and linalyl acetate) were compared with a control. The increase in reaction time was significantly lower with lavender than with the control. The results suggest that the administration of lavender helped to maintain sustained attention during the long-term task.

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