Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Karen W. on 10/02/2008 15:33:11

Title: How do aromas trigger memories?
Post by: Karen W. on 10/02/2008 15:33:11

 Well I was wondering how that worked.  I have experienced this in my life

on more then one occasion.

  How can an aroma trigger a hidden memory? I mean one that was forgotten and

buried until that moment you smell a certain odor.

Certain Hospital smells do this for me.

Also Certain lipsticks trigger long forgotten memories of my Mom..

and the way she smelled when she kissed me goodnight.

   So how do all of these things tie in with old memories and why does it drag

out forgotten memories , and why could I not remember them before the odor crossed my nose?

Title: How do aromas trigger memories?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 10/02/2008 17:54:37

It's all to do with how memories are stored in your brain. Associations are made between different aspects of the memory so that, as for what you are asking, a particular aroma sets off a kind of chain reaction in your brain. All the little bits of memories associated with that aroma come back to you.

Think of it like a piece of string that's attached to a bar. There are 2 bits of string coming from that bar, each connecting to another bar. From those bars there are 2 more pieces of string each and so on. If you pull the original piece of string, all the bars will move. Those bars equate to little bits of memory that are all associated with the pong.

Title: How do aromas trigger memories?
Post by: Karen W. on 10/02/2008 19:01:01

That is amazing! I know from experiences that certain smells bring back some scarry memories in my life. I picked up a grease rag a month ago.. you know mechanics oily dirt engine grease, and suddenly I was a little girl remembering some bits of horrible things..

Then there is like I said lipstick certain kinds the smell reminds me of me moms kisses as she always wore that lipstick!

Thanks Doc..

Title: How do aromas trigger memories?
Post by: rosalind dna on 10/02/2008 20:43:53

If I smell newly baked bread or freshly mown grass, then I remember my late
Mum and my many happy childhood memories with her. Like when I was learning
to cook and she was showing me how then the memories are stuck in my head
from earlier life.