Treacherous alcohol: smell alone can cloud the senses

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Previous studies have shown that the sight of alcohol can stimulate salivation and create excitement in the body. But the smell is not without it. Scientists at Edge Hill University conducted a computer-based study to find that some people lose control of themselves simply because of the smell of alcohol.

Alcohol causes false alarms

For their experiments, the researchers fitted test participants with face masks. Some of the masks were prepared with a non-alcoholic citrus solution, and some with an alcoholic scent. Subjects were then placed in front of a screen and asked to press a button as soon as the letter K or a beer bottle appeared. If test subjects pressed the button incorrectly, a false alarm was triggered.

It turns out “drunk” face mask wearers are more likely to trigger false alarms.

Research addiction is triggered

“During the experiment, it became clear that the smell of alcohol alone made it difficult for participants to control their behavior and not press the button,” says study leader Rebecca Monk. “We know that alcohol addiction behavior is influenced by our environment,” She continues. This includes the people around us and the situations in which we drink. “This study is the first attempt to explore other triggers, such as the sense of smell, that may influence people’s ability to avoid certain behaviors.”

The results of the research were published in the expert journal “Psychopharmacology”. (cm/gsc)

Source : Blick