1. The Effect of Smell on Memory
By Annie Foxen and Shannon Carman

2. Introduction
Does scent have an effect on your memory? We performed an experiment to see whether scents in the air can influence your grade on a test.
We had 3 groups study 10 made-up words and take a test on them 10 minutes later. The 1st group had no scent throughout the experiment, the 2nd group had the same scent the whole time, and the 3rd group studied and tested with two different scents.
Hypothesis: If a person studies with one scent and takes the test with that same scent, they will do better on the test.

3. Dependent Variable: score out of ten
Independent Variable: scents present while studying and testing

4. Materials and Methods 3 different scented sprays
3 different study sheets with 10 equally difficult made-up words with random meanings
A test for each study sheet in which the subject must match the made-up word with its English definition
Several human subjects within the age group of 13-14
Control Group
(no scent during experiment)
Study sheet #1 for 2 minutes
*no scent in air
Resume normal
activity for 10
minutes
Take test #1
Experimental Group 1
(same scent throughout experiment)
Study sheet #2 for 2 minutes
*scent #1 in air
Take test #2
Experimental Group 2
(different scents when studying and testing)
Study sheet #3 for 2 minutes
*scent #2 in air
Take test #3
*scent #3 in air

5. Pictures of Test Papers

6. Results (numbers for each group are the averages of several trials)10 9 8
7.4 7 6
5.8 6
Number of questions correct (out of 10) 5 4 3 2 1
Control Group (no scent)
Experimental Group #1 (same scent)
Experimental Group #2 (different scents)

7. Conclusions Hypothesis was disproved
There is no distinct correlation between the results of the experimental and control groups.
However, past studies have shown that certain scents have increased memory.