March 12, 2007
Sweet Smelling Sleep Enhances Memory…
Researchers at University of Lübeck and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany delivered a pleasant scent (roses) while subjects were learning the location of matched card pairs (remember the game “Memory”?). They then delivered the scent again while the subjects were in slow wave sleep. The experimental subjects showed 13% better memory for the card pairs than control subjects. However, the memory enhancement only occurred when the scent was delivered during slow-wave sleep, a time when memories are thought to be consolidated. The research appears in the journal “Science” and is reviewed here in the NY Times.
This is extremely interesting. I remember similar studies being done with Music (Mozart, specifically) where a memory task or creative task showed improvement if Mozart played in the background.
~ Jason ~