Samyukta Kulkarni - Week 13: Scents of the Past
Photo by EMBARQ India
Whenever I smell the pungent, chemical smell of gasoline, I am immediately taken back to my summers spent in India. I can almost feel the sticky humidity in the air and hear the distant hum of cars passing by on the main road in front of the house. But when I see gasoline at the gas station, it does not have the same effect– it's the scent that causes the memories to come rushing back.
The reason for this phenomenon has roots in our evolutionary history, according to Dr. Sandeep Dutta. Smell, which is one of our oldest senses, has evolved to help animals find food, mates, and assess danger. Our ancestors relied on their sense of smell to navigate their surroundings and these connections still exist in us today. Although our sense of smell has evolved over time, it functions in many of the same ways as it does in animals. The olfactory complex in our brain which helps identify and process scents is directly linked to our limbic system, which is responsible for memory storage and emotion. Unlike visual information, which is processed in many pathways, scent signals travel straight to our limbic system, which is why scents can be connected to strong emotional memories and experiences.
This is why a single whiff of gasoline can instantly bring back memories when seeing it has no impact on me. Scents don’t just remind us of the past but they directly trigger the parts of our brain that are linked to memory and emotion.
Hi, Samyukta! When I saw the picture of a ricksha on your blog, I was immediately intrigued. Like the smell of gasoline for you, the picture triggered my own memories of traveling in India!
ReplyDeleteThis week, I really enjoyed reading your blog post and learning the technical details behind how our processing of scents and memory of experiences are interconnected. A home’s unique smell and the scent of different foods or elements are often things that take me back to specific memories, but this is usually something that I have taken for granted. After learning about the olfactory complex in your blog, this phenomenon of smells reminding me of experiences makes so much more sense!
Some specific things I enjoyed while reading your blog include the concise language you’ve used that adds clarity, along with the conclusion at the end that leaves me with a lasting message about the connection between smells and memory. Thank you for sharing this blog, and I look forward to reading more of your writing in the coming weeks!
Hey Samyukta, upon reading the first line of your post, I could immediately relate to it. Anytime I smell anything remotely close to the scents from India, memories instantly flood into my head. Whether it be a certain type of exhaust gas, the general smog-dust mix that so often occurs, or even the smell of a really hot and humid day, I go through all my memorable experiences from my visits to India. I have also seen quite a bit of research connecting our sense of smell and our memory. Your post has an amazing hook that is relatable to many, and your blog has good content as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Samyukta! I don't know how to explain it, but the picture of the auto ricksha felt calming to see for some reason. It immediately made me understand what your blog would be about, and upon actually reading it, I can't agree more. As I think about it more, there is this one smell of baby powder that makes me feel at home because my grandmothers wear it all the time. I didn't quite realize it until I walked into a room at some house (I don't even remember where if I'm being honest) and smelt that distinct indian baby powder scent and immediately thought of them. I did not know of the science of it though, so that was a cool aspect to read about. It definitely explains why I felt so nostalgic upon smelling that scent, and others. I find it very interesting that the scent that reminds of India is gasoline though! Of course, each person has their own experience, but I feel like India very honestly has always smelled like fried food. But not like American friend food obviously, more like pav bhaji or puri. I loved the topic of your blog, and I am so excited to read more this semester!
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