Essential oil of lavender inhibited the decreased attention during a long-term task in humans.
This study examined the effects of odors on sustained attention during a vigilance task. Two essential oils (lavender and eucalyptus) and two materials (l-menthol and linalyl acetate) were compared with a control. The increase in reaction time was significantly lower with lavender than with the control. The results suggest that the administration of lavender helped to maintain sustained attention during the long-term task.
Shimizu
Kuniyoshi
K
Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. shimizu@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Gyokusen
Mayumi
M
Kitamura
Shingo
S
Kawabe
Takahiro
T
Kozaki
Tomoaki
T
Ishibashi
Keita
K
Izumi
Ryusuke
R
Mizunoya
Wataru
W
Ohnuki
Koichiro
K
Kondo
Ryuichiro
R
D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula / Q000737:chemistry*; D008610:Menthol / Q000494:pharmacology; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009812:Odorants; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D008610:Menthol; C074463:linalyl acetate