Aromatherapy for Retrieving Information from Long-Term Memory

I stumbled across this article (copied below) that describes how aromatherapy can help staying focused in the ever changing job market. Needless to say, the job market has seen better days. Some of my friends have been looking for a job for over a year. Others who have a job are staying in jobs they otherwise would quit. 


The article below mentions Rosemary essential oil but I found that Peppermint Essential Oil is a great stimulant as well. When I studied Cognitive Psychology in college, our professor told us to diffuse a scent (whatever that scent may be and an essential oil works best) while we studied for an exam or prepared for a presentation. Then, we should sniff on the same scent before and during the exam. It is a technique used for effective retrieval from long-term memory - encoding specificity principle. The stimulus (essential oil) is encoded along with the experience (study material) and can trigger the memory of the experience. 
So, the next time you study for a test, prepare for a job interview, or a presentation diffuse an essential oil or inhale it neat (smell the oil directly from the bottle). Then, before you take the exam (even during the exam), or before you go into the room to meet with the person who will conduct the job interview or give your presentation, inhale the scent again. It will trigger what you have studied and prepared for so diligently. 


And now, here is the article... 

GateHouse News Service

Posted Aug 05, 2010 @ 05:00 AM

Tip of the Week

In an increasingly competitive job market, many Americans are seeking every edge they can get to find a job, or keep the one they have. Stimulating the mind and memory function can help professionals feel more alert and "on their game." Aromatherapy can be one more weapon in a professional's business arsenal.

Aromatherapy works to stimulate memory and the mind because our sense of smell is the only sense directly connected to the central nervous system. The nasal bulb, an area of densely packed neural receptors, sits near the center of our heads and interfaces directly with the brain. By contrast, miles of nerve pathways sit between the ears, eyes and the brain. Tying visual and auditory experiences to a distinct aroma can help us process, retain and recall visual and auditory data more effectively.

Essential oils, the essences plants use to attract pollinating insects or ward off disease and predators, are the core of aromatherapy. They are completely natural, widely available and can be great tools for stimulating mental clarity and the enhancement of memory.

The oil most associated with memory is rosemary. The scent invigorates and refreshes while it stimulates the mind. Tom Havran, product developer for Aura Cacia pure aromatherapy, makes this suggestion: Try occasionally sniffing a small bottle of rosemary essential oil while studying for an exam or preparing for a work presentation, and then smelling the oil again during the test or presentation itself.

- ARA