Olfactory Context Modulates Recognition and Directed Forgetting of Emotional Faces: A Chemosensory-Cognitive Perspective

Abstract

Olfaction has privileged access to limbic and memory-related brain regions, yet how ambient odor valence influences memory for emotional faces remains poorly understood. This study examined the effects of pleasant odor, unpleasant odor, and odorless condition on recognition accuracy, reaction time, and directed forgetting of emotional faces. In Experiment 1 (study-recognition, n = 31), unpleasant odor significantly impaired recognition accuracy relative to pleasant odor and odorless condition (ps < .01) and slowed reaction times (p < .01); negative faces were recognized more accurately than positive faces (p < .01). In Experiment 2 (item-method directed forgetting, n = 33), a three-way interaction (p < .05) showed that odor valence selectively modulated directed forgetting depending on face type. Under pleasant odor, positive faces showed a robust directed forgetting effect (p < .01), whereas neutral faces exhibited a marginally reversed effect (p = .052). Under unpleasant odor, neutral faces demonstrated a significant directed forgetting effect (p < .01). No directed forgetting was observed for negative faces across all odor conditions. These findings provide novel behavioral evidence that olfactory contexts do not simply enhance or impair memory globally but selectively tune intentional forgetting in a valence-specific manner, advancing our understanding of how chemosensory environments shape cognitive control over socially relevant emotional information.