Authors
Diego MA. Jones NA. Field T. Hernandez-Reif M. Schanberg S. Kuhn C.
McAdam V. Galamaga R. Galamaga M.
Institution
University of Miami School of Medicine, USA.
Title
Aromatherapy positively affects mood, EEG
patterns of alertness and math computations.
Source
International Journal of Neuroscience. 96(3-4):217-24, 1998 Dec.
Abstract
EEG activity, alertness, and mood were assessed in 40 adults given 3 minutes
of aromatherapy using two aromas, lavender (considered a
relaxing odor) or rosemary (considered a stimulating odor). Participants were
also given simple math computations before and after the therapy. The
lavender group showed increased beta power, suggesting increased drowsiness,
they had less depressed mood (POMS) and reported feeling more relaxed and
performed the math computations faster and more accurately following
aromatherapy. The rosemary group, on the other hand, showed
decreased frontal alpha and beta power, suggesting increased alertness. They
also had lower state anxiety scores, reported feeling more relaxed and alert
and they were only faster, not more accurate, at completing the math
computations after the aromatherapy session.