Influences of individual differences in odor identification ability and aging on autobiographical memory cued by odor

Abstract

In this study, the effects of individual differences on olfactory identification ability and aging on the recall of autobiographical memories by odor stimulation were investigated. In the experiment, young and older adults were divided into two groups based on an olfactory identification ability test classifying participants as having high and low in olfactory identification ability. They were asked to recall autobiographical memories by olfactory stimulation and rate the vividness of the memories. The results showed that the group with high olfactory identification ability had more vivid memories than the group with low olfactory identification ability in the younger age group. However, no difference was observed in the older age group.