Smell is one of the most powerful senses, capable of evoking deep memories and emotions with a single scent. This is not just an impression, but a scientifically based reality.
Recent research published in the magazine Galileo revealed how the sense of smell is intrinsically linked to areas of the brain that process memories and emotions, in addition to addressing the impact of the loss of this sense on neurological diseases.
see more
Roman skeleton with skull tumor is found by archaeologists;…
Scare away ants and leave your home fragrant with THIS recipe…
The personal account of José A. Morales García, a scientific researcher in neurodegenerative diseases and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), takes us to his childhood in the carpentry workshop of Father.
The distinctive odor of the wood triggered a time travel experience, transporting him back to his hometown of Toledo, Spain.
The power of this aroma not only brought back memories, but also evoked emotions that he thought had long been forgotten, leading the man to question what was happening to him.
(Image: disclosure)
O sense of smell is directly linked to areas of the brain, such as the limbic system and the orbitofrontal cortex, which perform crucial role in shaping emotional responses and identifying and associating odors with experiences past.
Research has shown that memories evoked by smell tend to be linked to emotionally significant experiences.
This is because the sense of smell has a direct pathway to the brain's memory circuits, located in the hippocampus, which makes it an effective channel for accessing emotional memories from the past.
Furthermore, loss of smell can be an indicator of neurological pathologies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people temporarily lost their sense of smell, but for some it was permanent.
Studies have shown that disorders associated with loss of smell, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, often precede or accompany cognitive deterioration.
The good news is that olfactory gymnastics, that is, exposure to a variety of different aromas, can help reverse the loss of smell and improve cognitive and memory capacity.
Researchers suggest that daily exposure to different odors for a few hours for six months has a positive impact on memory function.
Although more research is needed to definitively confirm the benefits of olfactory stimulation as therapy, science is already shedding light on how our noses have a direct line to our memories and emotions.
Smell is a gateway to the past and emotions, thanks to the way the brain processes aromas. As Marcel Proust said: “Perfume is the last and best reserve of the past”.