Odors Are More Sensitive to Evaluative Conditioning than Sounds

摘要: Stimuli of different modalities can acquire an affective value via evaluative conditioning. This process describes a shift in perceived quality neutral stimulus towards the hedonics associated stimulus. The olfactory system, as compared to other modalities, might be especially prone attributing odor due its close neuroanatomical connectivity with brain regions processing emotion. In present study, we investigated whether odors is more sensitive conditioning than that sounds. For this purpose, 48 healthy participants (50% male) rated unfamiliar and emotionally sounds before after pairing either aversive or pictures. Our results show stronger decrease valence increases arousal dominance ratings for paired sounds, valence, arousal, were independent picture emotionality. Odors appear findings extend existing modality comparisons mainly focusing on characteristics odor-associated memories by specifically looking at itself associative learning. Perceived goes along tendency approach avoid odors, it change into direction. may have implications food fragrance choices but also understanding clinical conditions which become highly aversive, such post-traumatic stress disorder.