Why do scents evoke memories in us?

That happens to all of us : a certain smell wafted through the air , and suddenly we remember a person or event from the past. Sometimes a pleasant memory , sometimes not, but always powerful .

Researchers have been aware for many years to the wonderful memory humans have for odors , but a new study sheds light on how odors are tied to memories of the past. Researchers from the University of Science and Technology in Norway recently discovered the brain process behind the phenomenon of tying smells and memories , according to research published in Nature magazine .

According to the study , the brain connects odors situations through a network of neurons ( nerve cells ) to create links between them . Communication between cells is performed at a frequency of 20-40 Hz. According to the research team leader , the fact that nerve cells need to communicate to create synchronization between events was known , but the specific process in which memories are tied to specific odors was not clear so far.

Activity is scheduled and synchronized brain

To see how smells become memories , the researchers planned a maze of fragrances fort rats . During the experiment they Release through the maze one smell of two types of scent , and put food on one side of the maze . The rats quickly learned what the smell signifies the location of the food on the right and what food on the left location , and know to apply directly to where the smell of food was Released. Three weeks later, the rats were able to access the right side in 85 % of cases.

During each test electrodes were attached to the rats heads in order to track their brain activity . The researchers found that the link between smell experience has created a pattern of brain activity . This activity had Tied in it a smell from the nose and multiple brain centers simultaneously. Repeated synchronized activity between these centers formed memory.


In fact, nasal sensory input is translated and binds to specific nerve cells in store memories , and creates activity that is scheduled and synchronized every time that this specific scent appears. every such memory is Stored in a kind of internal brain map.

Now, every time the smell of a favorite holiday dish will cost you a childhood memory you will think of brainwave paved the connection between your nerve cells many years ago .