Can focused mindfulness training increase olfactory perception? A novel method and approach for quantifying olfactory perception
Mehmet K. Mahmut, Joy Fitzek, Katrin Bittrich, Anna Oleszkiewicz, Thomas Hummel
Abstract
Abstract The aim of the study was to examine whether mindfulness‐based training will increase the perception of odors and odor identification ability using a novel approach to quantifying olfactory perception. Eighteen participants were assigned to an experiment group and completed 5 min of focused mindfulness‐based training, twice‐per day for 2 days, while 18 control participants listened to a scientific podcast. The results revealed no significant differences between the experiment and control groups in terms of the number of odors counted over 2 days or odor identification ability at the end of the study. However, compared to controls, participants in the experiment group indicated via self‐report that they noticed odors more often after mindfulness training. This finding was only true for a subset of participants and given this is the first study of its kind; replication is required to determine whether mindfulness‐based training, possibly over a longer period of time, may increase olfactory perception. Practical Applications Given odorant perceptions can change after repeated exposure and recalling the number of odorants experienced in a day is difficult, using a finger counter is a novel and effective methodological approach to track and assess daily odorant exposure in experiment and consumer research.