Sometimes a certain odor will elicit a specific emotional response because the brain has associated that smell with a past memory.
Our olfactory cells function like a lock and key where certain aroma molecules (the keys) bind with certain olfactory receptors (the locks). When those olfactory cells/receptors are “unlocked” by an odor/”key”, they send impulses to a part of our brain that is closely associated with memories and emotions. The brain then interprets the impulses and attempts to recognize the odor and what it is associated with by sending the impulses to the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then sends signals to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce different types of hormones. The hormones that are produced have an effect on glands all throughout the body which then triggers the actual physiological and emotional responses that we experience from smell.
The doctor’s office, for example, may elicit an emotional response of fear or anxiety if a person has had a traumatic experience in a Doctor’s office in the past. The brain will associate that smell with the memory of the traumatic experience and stimulate hormones that cause feelings of fear or anxiety. However, someone who has never visited a Doctor’s office may feel calm or relaxed with no emotional response at all because there is no memory associated with that smell.
Similarly, the smell of a cooking turkey can elicit warm, inviting memories of family, love and togetherness for someone who has experienced many years of a happy, “family dinner style” Thanksgiving holiday. Conversely, for someone who never had a traditional Thanksgiving celebration, the smell of cooking turkey may elicit hunger but not necessarily evoke any familial emotions. Furthermore, the smell of cooking meat could induce feelings of nausea for someone who is strongly against a feast of animal flesh.
Our response to all situations is based on our past experiences and that is why two people can have completely opposite reactions to the same situation. They don’t have the same past experiences to associate their response with so the hormones released will differ depending on the person and their past.
-For Educational Purposes only
- Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
Resources:
1)Nat 211, Module 1, “Smell”
Updated 3/28/08 by Del Mulhern
2)Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, p.244
Sometimes a certain odor will elicit a specific emotional response because the brain has associated that smell with a past memory.
Our olfactory cells function like a lock and key where certain aroma molecules (the keys) bind with certain olfactory receptors (the locks). When those olfactory cells/receptors are “unlocked” by an odor/”key”, they send impulses to a part of our brain that is closely associated with memories and emotions. The brain then interprets the impulses and attempts to recognize the odor and what it is associated with by sending the impulses to the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then sends signals to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce different types of hormones. The hormones that are produced have an effect on glands all throughout the body which then triggers the actual physiological and emotional responses that we experience from smell.
The doctor’s office, for example, may elicit an emotional response of fear or anxiety if a person has had a traumatic experience in a Doctor’s office in the past. The brain will associate that smell with the memory of the traumatic experience and stimulate hormones that cause feelings of fear or anxiety. However, someone who has never visited a Doctor’s office may feel calm or relaxed with no emotional response at all because there is no memory associated with that smell.
Similarly, the smell of a cooking turkey can elicit warm, inviting memories of family, love and togetherness for someone who has experienced many years of a happy, “family dinner style” Thanksgiving holiday. Conversely, for someone who never had a traditional Thanksgiving celebration, the smell of cooking turkey may elicit hunger but not necessarily evoke any familial emotions. Furthermore, the smell of cooking meat could induce feelings of nausea for someone who is strongly against a feast of animal flesh.
Our response to all situations is based on our past experiences and that is why two people can have completely opposite reactions to the same situation. They don’t have the same past experiences to associate their response with so the hormones released will differ depending on the person and their past.
-For Educational Purposes only
- Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
Resources:
1)Nat 211, Module 1, “Smell”
Updated 3/28/08 by Del Mulhern
2)Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, p.244
Sometimes a certain odor will elicit a specific emotional response because the brain has associated that smell with a past memory.
Our olfactory cells function like a lock and key where certain aroma molecules (the keys) bind with certain olfactory receptors (the locks). When those olfactory cells/receptors are “unlocked” by an odor/”key”, they send impulses to a part of our brain that is closely associated with memories and emotions. The brain then interprets the impulses and attempts to recognize the odor and what it is associated with by sending the impulses to the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then sends signals to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce different types of hormones. The hormones that are produced have an effect on glands all throughout the body which then triggers the actual physiological and emotional responses that we experience from smell.
The doctor’s office, for example, may elicit an emotional response of fear or anxiety if a person has had a traumatic experience in a Doctor’s office in the past. The brain will associate that smell with the memory of the traumatic experience and stimulate hormones that cause feelings of fear or anxiety. However, someone who has never visited a Doctor’s office may feel calm or relaxed with no emotional response at all because there is no memory associated with that smell.
Similarly, the smell of a cooking turkey can elicit warm, inviting memories of family, love and togetherness for someone who has experienced many years of a happy, “family dinner style” Thanksgiving holiday. Conversely, for someone who never had a traditional Thanksgiving celebration, the smell of cooking turkey may elicit hunger but not necessarily evoke any familial emotions. Furthermore, the smell of cooking meat could induce feelings of nausea for someone who is strongly against a feast of animal flesh.
Our response to all situations is based on our past experiences and that is why two people can have completely opposite reactions to the same situation. They don’t have the same past experiences to associate their response with so the hormones released will differ depending on the person and their past.
-For Educational Purposes only
- Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
Resources:
1)Nat 211, Module 1, “Smell”
Updated 3/28/08 by Del Mulhern
2)Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, p.244