Multisensory Learning in the Undergraduate Chemistry Lab: The Case for Smell

The traditional five senses of the human nervous system are the primary receptors of the brain’s external stimuli. While tactile learning and visual observations are integral to the chemistry laboratory, olfactory learning should be considered part of an educator’s repertoire. Previous research shows that the human sense of smell plays a significant role in triggering long-term memories, and specific scents like vanillin can even prompt anamneses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of smell on memory in postsecondary chemistry students. The novelty of this study is that the participants completed a hands-on experiment to create their own olfactory memory cue. A sample of 61 college students took part in a three-week pretest−post-test control group design. In the first week, participants completed a procedure that evoked a chemical reaction – esterification – to synthesize isoamyl acetate, the nontoxic scent of bananas. During the following 2 weeks, the treatment group was exposed to the same banana smell, while the control group was not. Both groups took an identical pretest and post-test – the Smell Lab Assessment – to measure students’ memory of laboratory-related protocols, such as reagents, materials, and procedures for a Fischer esterification reaction. The t-test analyses showed significance at the p < 0.05 level for the recollection of protocol. Input from multiple sensory stimuli can enhance the precision and robustness of information remembered. This study’s findings may inspire the development of innovative pedagogical strategies infused with the commonly overlooked sense of smell.