Title: | Effect of acute exposure to a complex fragrance on lexical decision performance |
Address: | "Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1464-3553 (Electronic) 0379-864X (Linking) |
Abstract: | "This study tested the effect of acute exposure to a commercial air freshener, derived from fragrant botanical extracts, at an average concentration of 3.16 mg/m(3) total volatile organic compounds on the lexical decision performance of 28 naive participants. Participants attended two 18-min sessions on separate days and were continuously exposed to the fragrance in either the first (F/NF) or second (NF/F) session. Participants were not instructed about the fragrance. Exposure to the fragrance did not affect high-frequency word recognition. However, there was an order of administration effect for low-frequency word recognition accuracy. When the fragrance was administered first before the no-odor control condition, it did not affect accuracy, but when it was administered second after the control condition, it significantly decreased low-frequency word recognition accuracy. Reaction times to low-frequency words were significantly slower than those for high-frequency words, but no effect of either fragrance or order of administration on reaction times was found. The presence of fragrance in the second session apparently served as a distraction that impaired lexical task performance accuracy. The introduction of fragrances into buildings may not necessarily facilitate all aspects of work performance as anticipated" |
Keywords: | Adult Behavior/drug effects Decision Making/*drug effects Female Humans Male Memory Middle Aged Surveys and Questionnaires *Vocabulary Volatile Organic Compounds/*pharmacology Young Adult; |
Notes: | "MedlineGaygen, Daniel E Hedge, Alan eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2008/10/03 Chem Senses. 2009 Jan; 34(1):85-91. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjn057. Epub 2008 Oct 1" |