Contents
Why when we smell a lemon we feel thinner
Perceptual
A study affirms that certain smells influence our perception of our own body
The smell of lemon can get us feel lighter, while the smell of vanilla creates a feeling of heaviness. This is stated in the study “As Light as Your Scent: Effects of Smell and Sound on Body Image Perception”, developed by the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), the University College of London and the University of Sussex.
It is explained by Professor Ana Tajadura-Jiménez, from the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at UC3M: “The perception we have about our body is not fixed”. He gives as an example the perception we have through vision. He explains that, if we put on virtual reality glasses, and see our body as if it were another, our brain quickly adapts, and we change the perception of our body, adopting the one we see in the moment.
The same happens with other senses, in this case with the two studied: smell and sound. “The University of Sussex investigated how our perception of the body changes through smells and ours through sound,” explains the researcher.
Account how the study has shown that, by superimposing the sound of lighter steps on our steps, people they walk with more agility. It is the sum of this, with the smell of lemon, where the results are intensified. «If you put the two things together, you feel lighter. You walk in a more active way, raising your legs more, there is an acceleration. People even claimed to feel less tired and happier, “says the teacher.
The heavy vanilla
On the opposite side is the smell of vanilla, which makes us feel heavier. So does the sound of lower footsteps. Even so, Ana Tajadura-Jiménez comments that in this case it has not been observed with such notoriety as in the opposite case, that people have more difficulty walking.
The researcher says that thanks to another study we know that the smell of lemon is commonly associated with a slim silhouette, while that of vanilla is associated with a bulging silhouette. Also, the essence of citrus is usually related to the high frequencies, as well as the pointed figures and, on the other hand, the vanilla essence is related to the lower frequencies and the rounded figures.
What is the next step?
Professor Ana Tajadura-Jiménez also comments on the next application of this research. The project is called «MagicShoes» and what it investigates, as they explain, is «accompanying people’s movements with sound to increase positive attitude that we experience towards our own body, with the aim of improving motor behavior, self-esteem and motivation for physical activity ».
Using sound, what is sought is to alter the perception that sedentary or inactive people have about their own body, and help increase physical activity. What is sought is to create “portable technological devices suitable for use in real conditions (outdoors and at home) and with customization possibilities according to the needs or preferences of the user.”