Whenever I smell mothballs, I’m sent tumbling back in time. Suddenly, I’m back in my grandparent’s cabin in Maine, where I spent many summers growing up — and where the distinct, musty aroma of mothballs wafted out of the hallway closet. If I catch even a whiff today, I’m instantly whisked away back to that hallway, filled with a deep sense of comfort and security.
It seems like a given that smell is closely linked to memory. (You might be recalling your own odor-triggered recollections right now.) In fact, many studies have found a connection between smells, emotions and powerful memories. Neuroscientists have even used fMRI brain scans to show that odors evoke strong memories and emotions due to the brain regions responsible for processing them.
In short, the nose knows more than we think. Here’s what researchers have revealed about how smell, memory and emotion are intertwined.
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