On Point | Podcast Week of Wonder: 'Vivaldi smells like breakfast sausage'
Jul 15, 2025
Jonas Olofsson, a psychology professor and director of the Sensory Cognitive Research Lab, shares fascinating insights about the power of smell. He discusses how scents can unleash vivid memories and manipulate emotions, highlighting the often-neglected importance of olfactory research. Olofsson explores the evolutionary significance of our sense of smell, the heightened olfactory perception during pregnancy, and the emotional impact of losing this sense during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also advocates for a richer olfactory vocabulary to enhance our sensory experiences.
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Smell and Alzheimer's Early Link
- Sense of smell is an early marker for diseases like Alzheimer's. - Smell tests can help detect early brain pathology due to overlap with memory-related brain regions.
Petrichor's Powerful Impact
- Shauna Martin shares how the smell of wet mud, called petrichor, deeply connects to her life and work as a ceramic artist. - This unique scent blends soil bacteria and ozone, evoking vivid memories and creative inspiration.
Scientific Bias Against Smell
- Historically, science ignored smell because it's subjective and hard to measure. - This bias persists despite smell's significant influence on memory and emotion.