Odor memory is commonly believed to be very strong and long-lasting. The present study examined factors that impact odor recognition memory over short delay intervals (immediately or 30 s after target presentation) with emphasis on memory task (forced-choice vs “monadic”/single stimulus yes/no), odor category, and target/foil relationship. We explored trial-by-trial confidence as well as the effect of target familiarity, pleasantness, and intensity ratings, and odor nameability on memory for odors. Overall odor recognition memory in terms of proportion correct and sensitivity measures did not decline significantly during the 30-s delay interval in either task. However, hit rates were lower at 30 s and correct rejection rates for common odors remained consistently high. Recognition memory was better on trials in which the odor pairs were highly dissimilar, as well as on trials in which the target was an uncommon odor, particularly if it could be named. Familiarity, pleasantness, and intensity had no systematic effect on recognition memory. Whereas the results provide evidence of a fading memory trace, indicated by the decreased hit rates after a 30-s delay, the constant rates of correct rejections and high confidence ratings on those trials, even after delay, suggests that novelty detection (i.e., recognition that an odor is not one that has been encountered previously in that context) may play an important role in the memory for odors over short delays. Whether there is a separate short-term odor memory store is also addressed.

中文翻译：

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记忆中常见和不常见气味的新奇检测

人们普遍认为气味记忆力非常强且持久。本研究检查了影响气味识别记忆在短延迟间隔内（目标呈现后立即或 30 秒）的因素，重点是记忆任务（强制选择与“单次”/单一刺激是/否）、气味类别和目标/陪衬关系。我们探索了逐次试验的信心以及目标熟悉度、愉悦度和强度等级以及气味可命名性对气味记忆的影响。在任何一项任务的 30 秒延迟间隔期间，就比例正确和灵敏度测量而言，总体气味识别记忆没有显着下降。然而，命中率在 30 秒时较低，常见气味的正确拒绝率仍然很高。在气味对高度不同的试验以及目标是一种不常见气味的试验中，识别记忆更好，尤其是在可以命名的情况下。熟悉度、愉快度和强度对识别记忆没有系统性影响。虽然结果提供了记忆痕迹减弱的证据，表现为 30 秒延迟后命中率降低，但即使在延迟之后，这些试验的正确拒绝率和高置信度评级也保持不变，这表明新颖性检测（即识别气味不是以前在该上下文中遇到过的气味）可能在短暂延迟的气味记忆中起重要作用。是否有单独的短期气味记忆库也得到解决。特别是如果它可以命名。熟悉度、愉快度和强度对识别记忆没有系统性影响。虽然结果提供了记忆痕迹减弱的证据，表现为 30 秒延迟后命中率降低，但即使在延迟之后，这些试验的正确拒绝率和高置信度评级也保持不变，这表明新颖性检测（即识别气味不是以前在该上下文中遇到过的气味）可能在短暂延迟的气味记忆中起重要作用。是否有单独的短期气味记忆库也得到解决。特别是如果它可以命名。熟悉度、愉快度和强度对识别记忆没有系统性影响。虽然结果提供了记忆痕迹减弱的证据，表现为 30 秒延迟后命中率降低，但即使在延迟之后，这些试验的正确拒绝率和高置信度评级也保持不变，这表明新颖性检测（即识别气味不是以前在该上下文中遇到过的气味）可能在短暂延迟的气味记忆中起重要作用。是否有单独的短期气味记忆库也得到解决。即使在延迟之后，这些试验的正确拒绝率和高置信度评级的恒定率表明，新奇检测（即识别气味不是以前在该上下文中遇到过的气味）可能在记忆中发挥重要作用短暂延迟的气味。是否有单独的短期气味记忆库也得到解决。即使在延迟之后，这些试验的正确拒绝率和高置信度评级的恒定率表明，新奇检测（即识别气味不是以前在该上下文中遇到过的气味）可能在记忆中发挥重要作用短暂延迟的气味。是否有单独的短期气味记忆库也得到解决。