Olfactory LOVER: behavioral and neural correlates of autobiographical odor memory

TLDR

Autobiographical memories are personally experienced events localized in time and space, and research shows that odor‑evoked autobiographical memory differs from those evoked by sight and hearing. The study provides an overview of memories evoked by the sense of smell. The authors describe the LOVER framework—Limbic, Old, Vivid, Emotional, Rare—to characterize olfactory‑evoked autobiographical memories. Behavioral and neuroanatomical analyses reveal distinct differences in odor‑evoked autobiographical memory.

Abstract

Autobiographical memories (AMs) are personally experienced events that may be localized in time and space. In the present work we present an overview targeting memories evoked by the sense of smell. Overall, research indicates that autobiographical odor memory is different than memories evoked by our primary sensory systems; sight and hearing. Here, observed differences from a behavioral and neuroanatomical perspective are presented. The key features of an olfactory evoked AM may be referred to the LOVER acronym - Limbic, Old, Vivid, Emotional, and Rare.