A key to improving memory may lie in a common herb — rosemary.
A study presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual
conference in Harrogate showed that the smell of the essential oil from the
herb appears to enhance the ability to remember events and complex tasks.
The researchers from the University of Northumbria had 66 adults enter
one of two rooms — a room with no scent and a room with a rosemary scent. The
participants were then tested on their memory functions by finding hidden
objects and passing objects to researchers at particular times.
The subjects in the rosemary-scented room performed better on the memory
tasks than those in the room with no smell.
“In this study we focused on prospective memory, which involves the
ability to remember events that will occur in the future and to remember to
complete tasks at particular times. This is critical for everyday functioning,”
explained author Dr Mark Moss.
Previous work had already hinted toward the effect of rosemary on
memory, showing that compounds in the rosemary aroma could improve long-term
memory and mental arithmetic.
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