Semantic Knowledge Influences Prewired Hedonic Responses to Odors

Abstract

BackgroundOdor hedonic perception relies on decoding the physicochemical properties of odorant molecules and can be influenced in humans by semantic knowledge. The effect of semantic knowledge on such prewired hedonic processing over the life span has remained unclear.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe present study measured hedonic response to odors in different age groups (children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors) and found that children and seniors, two age groups characterized by either low level of (children) or weak access to (seniors) odor semantic knowledge, processed odor hedonics more on the basis of their physicochemical properties. In contrast, in teenagers and young adults, who show better levels of semantic odor representation, the role of physicochemical properties was less marked.Conclusions/SignificanceThese findings demonstrate for the first time that the biological determinants that make an odor pleasant or unpleasant are more powerful at either end of the life span.

Olfactory categorization: A developmental study

“…So far, scientific evidence in favor of this hypothesis is rather scarce. According to the second standpoint, hedonic values of odors are culturally determined and depend on individuals' experience with the odorants (Hertz, Schankler, & Beland, 2004;Poncelet et al, 2011). Our results are more in line with the second point of view because no agreement was observed among individuals.…”

Molecular complexity determines the number of olfactory notes and the pleasantness of smells

“…Human olfactory perception can be modulated by receptor polymorphism6, physiological states7, learning processes8 and lexical knowledge9101112, and these aspects, which were not under study here, are prominent parameters in odor perception. What is shown here, however, is that a relationship between molecular structure and number of evoked olfactory notes exists not only in experts but also in non-expert subjects, meaning that it is maintained beyond differences in learning and experience and may reflect an intrinsic property of the human olfactory system.…”

The smell of us – crowdsourcing human body odor evaluation

“…Individual smellers will differ in their genetics (Keller, Zhuang, Chi, Vosshall, & Matsunami, 2007), level of training (Cain, 1979), previous experience with an odor (Poncelet et al, 2010), and demographic profile (Keller, Hempstead, Gomez, Gilbert, & Vosshall, 2012). To an unknown extent, odor perception is the product of cultural forces beyond the scope of chemistry or physiology (Agapakis & Tolaas, 2012).…”