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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
04:47
Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
Published on: September 18, 2018
Source and item memory for odors and objects in children and young adults
Eva Pirogovsky1, Paul E Gilbert, Claire Murphy
1Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Court, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
Developmental Neuropsychology
|September 26, 2006
Summary
Children exhibit poorer odor source memory compared to young adults, likely due to developing frontal lobes. This contrasts with object memory, where performance was similar between age groups.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Children have weaker recall and recognition memory for odors than adolescents.
- Children underperform young adults in source memory tasks involving visual and auditory stimuli.
- Odor source memory has not been previously studied in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare source and item memory for odors and objects in children and young adults.
- To determine if children's source memory for odors differs significantly from that of young adults.
Main Methods:
- Participants (children 7-10 years; adults 18-24 years) studied 16 odors or objects presented by two experimenters (sources).
- Item memory was tested via recognition of studied vs. novel stimuli.
- Source memory was assessed by asking participants to identify which experimenter presented specific stimuli.
Main Results:
- Children showed significantly larger differences between item and source memory for odors compared to young adults.
- This indicates poorer source memory for odors in children.
- No significant differences in source memory performance for objects were found between the age groups.
Conclusions:
- Children have a specific deficit in source memory for odors compared to young adults.
- This finding may be linked to the ongoing development of the frontal lobes, crucial for source and odor memory.
- Immature frontal lobe function likely contributes to children's difficulties with odor source memory.
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