| Title: | Olfactory imagery as a retrieval method for autobiographical memories |
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| Authors: | ID Schlintl, Carina (Author)
ID Zorjan, Saša (Author)
ID Schienle, Anne (Author) |
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| Files: |  Schlintl-2023-Olfactory_imagery_as_a_retrieval.pdf (680,20 KB)
MD5: 5DB381362D82ADAFDDFCCA276ED27D84
 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-022-01701-y
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FF - Faculty of Arts
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| Abstract: | Introduction
The retrieval of autobiographical memories is infuenced by several factors, such as sensory modality and the emotional salience of memory cues. This study aimed at investigating the interaction between sensory modalities (olfaction, vision) and emotional dimensions (valence, arousal) of imagery cues, on the frequency, quality, and age distribution of the autobiographical memories (AMs) elicited.
Method
A total of 296 females (aged between 18 and 35 years) received one out of eight brief instructions for olfactory or visual imagery. The participants were asked to create a mental image with either high arousal/positive valence, high arousal/ negative valence, low arousal/positive valence, or low arousal/negative valence (e. g., ‘imagine an unpleasant and arousing odor/scene’); no specifc stimulus was mentioned in the instruction.
Results
The approach used elicited imagery with autobiographical content in the majority of participants (78%). In terms of frequency, odor imagery, compared to visual imagery, turned out to be more efective at retrieving either unpleasant memories associated with experiences in adulthood, or pleasant childhood memories. In terms of quality, the imagery was rated as less vivid in the olfactory compared to the visual condition (irrespective of valence and arousal of the imagery instruction). Visual imagery was associated with the experience of more diverse emotions (happiness, sadness, anxiety, anger) than odor imagery, which was related primarily with disgust and happiness.
Conclusion
Our fndings indicate that nonspecifc imagery induction is a useful approach in accessing AM.
Implication
This approach presents promising clinical applications, such as in working with autobiographical memory narratives in psychotherapy. |
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| Keywords: | mental imagery, authobiographical memories, sensory modalities, emotional dimensions |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 19.02.2022 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 15.06.2022 |
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| Publication date: | 05.07.2022 |
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| Publisher: | Springer Nature |
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| Year of publishing: | 2023 |
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| Number of pages: | Str. 862-871 |
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| Numbering: | Letn. 87, Št. 3 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-87956  |
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| UDC: | 159.9.07 |
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| ISSN on article: | 0340-0727 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 115098371 |
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| DOI: | 10.1007/s00426-022-01701-y |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 03.04.2024 |
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| Views: | 294 |
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| Downloads: | 20 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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