2.1 - Can olfactory experiences be shared?

Question 1

How do odors differ from other stimuli (physiological characteristics) ?

Answer 1

1. The range of olfactory stimuli has not been establised (it is considered 10 000 different odors exist in the world)
2. The cognitive processes associated with the perception of odors are highly variable and diverse among individuals.

Question 2

How does the sense of smell works ?

Answer 2

Chemically. Contact between volatile molecules released from substances and receptors in the olfactory cell membrane.

Question 3

What are the characteristics of olfactory receptors ?

Answer 3

• There is a wide variety of them (contrary to sight with only one type)
• Individuals do not all have the same amount. Some people can be sensitivei and others insensitive to the same molecules.
• Odor detection varies among individuals.

Question 4

What factors influence odor detection thresholds ?

Answer 4

• Endogenous factors (gender, age, internal state : satiety, level of attention…)
• Exogenous factors (experience, familiarity, culture)

Question 5

How many basic compounds can be discriminated in a mixture ?

Answer 5

3 or 4

Question 6

Who showed the perception of odors is global ?

Answer 6

Laing (1991) : participants cannot recognize compounds in more than 3% of trials, even with training

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the perception of odors ?

Answer 7

It is variable and global

Question 8

What are the characteristics of olfactory memory ?

Answer 8

• Global in the sens that it inludes the encoding of context

- Odors can spontaneously trigger autobiographical memories (Proust phenomenon)

Question 9

How is the difficulty to describe odors referred to and by whom ?

Answer 9

The tip-of-the-nose state, Lawless & Engen (1977)

Question 10

Who studied the characteristics of denominations used to describe odors ?

Answer 10

Urdapilleta, Giboreau, Manetta and Richard (2006)

Question 11

What are the characteristics of denominations used to describe odors ?

Answer 11

They refer to the same semantic dimensions and convey the same sort of meanings :

• source
• intensity
• temporality
• use
• hedonistic value
• emotion

Question 12

Who studied the variability of the descriptions of odors ?

Answer 12

Chrea, Ferdenzi, Valentin and Abdi (2007)

Question 13

What notion can help define the relation between odor perceptions and language

Answer 13

Codability : ease and degree of agreement with which people can name an odor

Question 14

What are the results of the study on codability of odors ?

Answer 14

• Some odors are more codable than others (more readily identified by specific names, with stronger agreement.
• Codability is related to the familiarity of the fragrance in a culture (eg : garlic, anise and lavendre are highly consensuel for French people, but not for American sor Vietnamese).