2018 Volume 43 Issue 253 Pages 23-30
This study investigated the effect of a peppermint fragrance on the performance of a memory task as well as on the physiological and subjective sensation during the task. Ten healthy male participants were exposed to indoor conditions with or without the peppermint fragrance. They performed memory task for 7-to-9-digit numbers in a climatic chamber controlled at 28°C and 50% relative humidity. During the experiment, the cerebral oxygenation level was evaluated using the near-infrared spectroscopy on the forehead. The heart rate, inner ear temperature, skin temperature, forehead skin blood flow, and forearm local sweat rate were continuously measured. Thermal sensation and comfort, subjective sweat sensation, and perceived temperature were assessed eight times. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the task performance between fragrance conditions. In the peppermint condition, the cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin level and heat rate were slightly decreased during the task. This result suggests that the peppermint fragrance might decrease the physiological strain during the cognitive task, even with a similar performance level in the memory task. Thermoregulatory response and subjective sensations showed small changes during the experiment, but no significant difference was observed between the two conditions.
