Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding
Despite the predominant focus on visual perception in most studies, the role of humans’ sense of smell in navigation has often been neglected. Recent research, however, could show that humans are indeed able to use their sense of smell for orientation, particularly when processed implicitly. In this...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1285034/full |
| _version_ | 1827762280410906624 |
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| author | Mira Schwarz Kai Hamburger |
| author_facet | Mira Schwarz Kai Hamburger |
| author_sort | Mira Schwarz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the predominant focus on visual perception in most studies, the role of humans’ sense of smell in navigation has often been neglected. Recent research, however, could show that humans are indeed able to use their sense of smell for orientation, particularly when processed implicitly. In this study, we investigate whether implicit perception of olfactory landmarks enhanced wayfinding performance compared to explicit perception. Fifty-two people completed a wayfinding and a recognition task in a virtual maze at two times of testing 1 month apart. Participants either received olfactory, visual, or both cues at the intersections. Wayfinding performance was better for olfactory landmarks, which were not correctly remembered in the recognition task. In contrast, wayfinding performance was better when visual landmarks were correctly remembered. In the multimodal condition, wayfinding performance was better with landmarks being remembered at t1 and remained the same at t2. Our results suggest distinct implicit processing mechanisms within the olfactory system and therefore hold important implications for the nature of spatial odor processing extending beyond explicit odor localization tasks. The study highlights the importance for future studies to develop and employ further experimental methods that capture implicit processing across all of our senses. This is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of consciousness, as olfaction strongly influences our behavior, but remains largely latent unless deliberately honed through practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:28:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-146bd79ec4e24186b758241ab0e18d8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:28:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-146bd79ec4e24186b758241ab0e18d8c2023-11-15T07:17:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-11-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12850341285034Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfindingMira SchwarzKai HamburgerDespite the predominant focus on visual perception in most studies, the role of humans’ sense of smell in navigation has often been neglected. Recent research, however, could show that humans are indeed able to use their sense of smell for orientation, particularly when processed implicitly. In this study, we investigate whether implicit perception of olfactory landmarks enhanced wayfinding performance compared to explicit perception. Fifty-two people completed a wayfinding and a recognition task in a virtual maze at two times of testing 1 month apart. Participants either received olfactory, visual, or both cues at the intersections. Wayfinding performance was better for olfactory landmarks, which were not correctly remembered in the recognition task. In contrast, wayfinding performance was better when visual landmarks were correctly remembered. In the multimodal condition, wayfinding performance was better with landmarks being remembered at t1 and remained the same at t2. Our results suggest distinct implicit processing mechanisms within the olfactory system and therefore hold important implications for the nature of spatial odor processing extending beyond explicit odor localization tasks. The study highlights the importance for future studies to develop and employ further experimental methods that capture implicit processing across all of our senses. This is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of consciousness, as olfaction strongly influences our behavior, but remains largely latent unless deliberately honed through practice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1285034/fullwayfindingrecognitionimplicit processingolfactionspatial cognition |
| spellingShingle | Mira Schwarz Kai Hamburger Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding Frontiers in Psychology wayfinding recognition implicit processing olfaction spatial cognition |
| title | Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding |
| title_full | Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding |
| title_fullStr | Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding |
| title_short | Implicit versus explicit processing of visual, olfactory, and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding |
| title_sort | implicit versus explicit processing of visual olfactory and multimodal landmark information in human wayfinding |
| topic | wayfinding recognition implicit processing olfaction spatial cognition |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1285034/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miraschwarz implicitversusexplicitprocessingofvisualolfactoryandmultimodallandmarkinformationinhumanwayfinding AT kaihamburger implicitversusexplicitprocessingofvisualolfactoryandmultimodallandmarkinformationinhumanwayfinding |