Chemosensory alteration of information processing

Previous research has found both facilitation and interference when odors are administered during the performance of cognitive tasks. The present research was designed to investigate the possibility that odors might differentially effect different varieties of cognitive tasks. Twelve subjects performed matched verbal, numeric, and spatial tasks as event-related potentials were measured. Odors and tones were introduced as subjects completed the tasks in a paradigm optimized to produce disruption of performance. Results indicated that P300 amplitude to the task stimuli depended upon the type of task and the modality of the distractor. P300 amplitude was relatively consistent across tasks for the tone distractor. During the olfactory distractor, P300 amplitude was greater for the symbolic stimuli (verbal and numeric) and lower for the spatial. Reaction times to the various tasks did not differ as a function of the modality of the distractor.