Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Autobiographical Memory01:14

Autobiographical Memory

5.9K
Autobiographical memory is a unique type of episodic memory that involves recollecting personal life experiences. It allows individuals to remember significant events from their past, creating a narrative of their lives. One interesting phenomenon related to autobiographical memory is the reminiscence bump. This effect refers to the tendency of adults to recall more events from their second and third decades of life — typically between ages 10 to 30 — than from other periods. This...
5.9K
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

45.0K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
45.0K
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

9.6K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
9.6K
Traumatic Memory01:20

Traumatic Memory

165
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
165
Implicit Memories01:24

Implicit Memories

188
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
188
Sensory Memory01:14

Sensory Memory

297
Sensory memory captures information from the environment in its original form for a very brief duration, just long enough to be exposed to visual, auditory, and other senses. This type of memory is detailed and rich but quickly lost unless certain strategies are employed to transfer it into short-term or long-term memory. Sensory information is continuously bombarding the human brain, yet only a small fraction is absorbed, as most of it does not significantly impact daily life. For instance,...
297

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Brain Aging in Specific Phobia: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis.

Human brain mapping·2026
Same author

Self-touch versus muscle relaxation: Short-term benefits for physical well-being and body appreciation.

Acta psychologica·2026
Same author

Another Differentiated Look at Emotions: A Replication Study on Associations Between Gaze Behavior During the Processing of Affective Videos and Emotional Granularity.

Scandinavian journal of psychology·2026
Same author

Acceptance of Open-Label Placebos Is Linked to Holistic Health Beliefs and Thinking Styles.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Neurophysiological potentials mediating the influence of social support on pain.

The journal of pain·2026
Same author

Eye candy & eye tunes: Effects of liked vs. disliked music on desire to eat and food choice in an eye-tracking buffet paradigm.

Appetite·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
11:30

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

9.9K

Olfactory imagery as a retrieval method for autobiographical memories.

Carina Schlintl1, Saša Zorjan2, Anne Schienle3

  • 1Clinical Psychology, University of Graz, BioTechMed, Universitätsplatz 2/III, 8010, Graz, Austria. carina.schlintl@uni-graz.at.

Psychological Research
|July 5, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Olfactory imagery effectively retrieves adult unpleasant or childhood pleasant autobiographical memories (AMs), while visual imagery yields more vivid recollections and diverse emotions. Both sensory modalities aid AM recall.

More Related Videos

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
04:47

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

6.7K
Using a Classroom-Based Deese Roediger McDermott Paradigm to Assess the Effects of Imagery on False Memories
08:53

Using a Classroom-Based Deese Roediger McDermott Paradigm to Assess the Effects of Imagery on False Memories

Published on: November 14, 2018

9.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
11:30

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection

Published on: August 26, 2011

9.9K
Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
04:47

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants

Published on: September 18, 2018

6.7K
Using a Classroom-Based Deese Roediger McDermott Paradigm to Assess the Effects of Imagery on False Memories
08:53

Using a Classroom-Based Deese Roediger McDermott Paradigm to Assess the Effects of Imagery on False Memories

Published on: November 14, 2018

9.7K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Memory Research

Background:

  • Autobiographical memory retrieval is influenced by sensory input and emotional cues.
  • Understanding the interplay of sensory modality and emotional dimensions is key to memory research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how olfactory and visual imagery, combined with emotional dimensions (valence, arousal), affect autobiographical memory (AM) retrieval.
  • To analyze the frequency, quality, and age distribution of AMs elicited by different imagery cues.

Main Methods:

  • 296 female participants (18-35 years) received instructions for olfactory or visual imagery with varying valence and arousal levels.
  • Participants were prompted to create mental images without specific stimulus suggestions.

Main Results:

  • Nonspecific imagery induction successfully elicited autobiographical content in 78% of participants.
  • Olfactory imagery was more effective for retrieving adult unpleasant or childhood pleasant memories, while visual imagery produced more vivid recollections.
  • Visual imagery evoked a broader range of emotions compared to olfactory imagery, which was primarily linked to disgust and happiness.

Conclusions:

  • Nonspecific imagery induction is a viable method for accessing autobiographical memories.
  • This technique shows potential for therapeutic applications, particularly in psychotherapy for autobiographical memory work.