Memory and smell
The link between smell and memory has got scientists wondering whether we can use scents to improve our capacity to remember. Researchers at Northumbria University conducted studies to find out what happens to our brains when we sense powerful smells. In one study, they asked 180 volunteers to drink chamomile tea, peppermint tea, or plain hot water. Then they tested their mood and brain function. Compared to water, chamomile tea made volunteers less attentive, while peppermint tea improved their alertness. In a separate study, 150 volunteers went into rooms that smelled of rosemary, lavender or nothing, and they were asked to complete a task at a particular time. Rosemary improved memory, but lavender made it worse, although the volunteers did feel calmer.