抄録
The purpose of this study is to investigate how the preference of fragrance influences the autonomic function and neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex. The electrocardiogram and brain blood flow were measured when five subjects smelled fragrance (e. g., household fabric softener as comfortable stimulus and mimetic sweat odor as uncomfortable stimulus). Based on the physiological responses, we investigated the influence on neuronal activity, the relation between the cortical activation pattern and the preference of the fragrance, in addition to the intensity of emotional stress. As a result, it was found that the prefrontal cortex was activated by the inhalation of fragrance, which was especially noticeable at the gyri orbitales when subjects smelled the mimetic sweat odor. The proportion of influenced degree (PI) at the gyri orbitales to that at the other parts in the prefrontal cortex was correlated with the sympathetic activity. This indicates that PI may serve as an index of emotional stress.
