Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
ODor-evoked Autobiographical Memory in Alzheimer's disease?
Mohamad El Haj1,2,3
1Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL - EA 4638), Nantes Université, Univ Angers, Nantes F-44000, France.
Objective:
Because memory decline is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), an important endeavor for both clinicians and researchers is to improve memory performances in AD. This can be pursued by olfactory stimulation of memory in patients with AD and by studying the effects of olfactory stimulation on autobiographical memory (i.e., memory for personal information). The effects of olfactory stimulation on autobiographical memory in patients with mild AD have been reported by recent research. We thus provide the first comprehensive overview of research on odor-evoked autobiographical memory in AD. We also establish the basis for solid theoretical analysis concerning the memory improvement reported by research on odor-evoked autobiographical memory in AD.
Method:
We examined literature on odor-evoked autobiographical memories in AD and propose the "OdAMA" (Odor-evoked Autobiographical Memory in Alzheimer's disease) model.
Results And Discussion:
According to OdAMA model, odor exposure activates involuntary access to specific autobiographical memories, which promotes enhanced experience subjective of retrieval in patients with AD and improves their ability to construct not only recent and remote events but also future ones. The OdAMA model could serve as a guide for researchers and clinicians interested in odor-evoked autobiographical memory in AD.
Related Concept Videos
Autobiographical Memory
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Olfaction
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Eyewitness Memory
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function...
Traumatic Memory
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

