Cross-modal integration between odors and abstract symbols.
This study aimed to investigate the cross-modal association of an "abstract symbol," designed for representation of an odor, with its corresponding odor. First, to explore the associations of abstract symbols with odors, participants were asked to match 8 odors with 19 different abstract symbols (Experiment 1). Next, we determined whether congruent symbols could modulate olfactory perception and olfactory event-related potentials (ERPs) (Experiment 2). One of two odors (phenylethanol (PEA) or 1-butanol) was presented with one of three conditions (congruent or incongruent symbol, no-symbol), and participants were asked to rate odor intensity and pleasantness during olfactory ERP recordings. Experiment 1 demonstrated that certain abstract symbols could be paired with specific odors. In Experiment 2 congruent symbol enhanced the intensity of PEA compared to no-symbol presentation. In addition, the respective congruent symbol increased the pleasantness of PEA and the unpleasantness of 1-butanol. Finally, compared to the incongruent symbol, the congruent symbol produced significantly higher amplitudes and shorter latencies in the N1 peak of olfactory ERPs. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that abstract symbols may be associated with specific odors.
Seo
Han-Seok
HS
Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany.
Arshamian
Artin
A
Schemmer
Kerstin
K
Scheer
Ingeborg
I
Sander
Thorsten
T
Ritter
Guido
G
Hummel
Thomas
T
D020001:1-Butanol; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol; D011601:Psychophysics; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D020001:1-Butanol; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol