Olfactory stimuli can be quite salient and can play important roles in memory and cognition (Engen, 1991; Richardson & Zucco, 1989). To further examine the extent to which olfactory stimuli can influence psychological function, we initiated a series of studies on the ability of fragrances to enhance signal detection in tedious but demanding sustained attention (vigilance) tasks (Dember, Warm & Parasuraman, 1991). As performed in the laboratory, these tasks are meant to simulate core features of "real-world" tasks engaged in by quality control inspectors, radar operators and other personnel who must monitor displays for the occasional, unpredictable, occurrence of critical events or signals (Warm, 1984). Our early results were encouraging. Exposure to brief whiffs of the odor of Peppermint or Muguet enhanced signal detectability in comparison to control conditions in which observers were exposed to puffs of unscented air. In addition, accessory olfactory stimulation also served to attenuate the decrement function, the decline in the frequency of signal detections over time that characterizes vigilance performance (Dember, Warm & Parasuraman, 1996; Warm, Dember & Parasuraman, 1991). These studies suggested that exposure to fragrance may serve as an effective form of ancillary stimulation in tasks demanding close attention for prolonged periods of time.
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