EFFECTS OF A PLEASANT AMBIENT FRAGRANCE ON SIMULATED DRIVING PERFORMANCE - THE SWEET SMELL OF ... SAFETY

Eighty undergraduates performed a simulated driving task that required them to keep a moving target within defined boundaries (compensatory tracking); they also performed this task while responding to randomly occurring visual stimuli (stop signs). They performed these tasks in t he presence or absence of a pleasant fragrance and after receiving or not receiving a small gift. A significant Fragrance x Gift interaction indicated that performance on both tasks was significantly enhanced b y pleasant fragrance but only when participants did not also receive a gift. A main effect of gift condition indicated that performance on b oth tasks was significantly reduced by receipt of a small gift. In a f ollow-up study, 5 minutes of exposure to a pleasant fragrance was foun d to produce significant increments in participants' positive affect a nd alertness. Results were interpreted as suggesting that in the absen ce of other sources of positive affect, exposure to a pleasant fragran ce can enhance some aspects of driving performance.