抄録
To investigate the development of olfactory preferences, a forced-choice procedure embedded in a simple task was used to 2-year-olds' (n=29) hedonic responses to two odors with those of 9 to 12-years-olds' (n=56) and those of adults' (n=29). Verbal communication abilities of 2-year-old children are immature, so to test their preferences for odors is complicated. To overcome this challenge, two physically similar boxes were prepared. f3-phenylethyl alcohol (a rose-like odor) was filled in one box and skatole was placed in the other. Infants watched an animation video in one box and the same video in the other box, and then they were asked in which box they preferred to watch the video again. The 9 to 12-years-old group and the adult group expressed a preference for the box with a rose-like odor. However, the infant group showed no preference between the rose-like odor box and the skatole odor box.
