By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – To stay alert behind the wheel
on long road trips, skip the coffee and try sniffing peppermint
or cinnamon. Researchers from West Virginia have found that
getting a whiff of pleasant odors periodically while driving
increases alertness, reduces fatigue, and even lowers drivers’
anxiety and frustration.
Increased driver alertness could lead to fewer accidents on
the highway and decreased frustration could translate into
fewer instances of “road rage,” Dr. Bryan Raudenbush from
Wheeling Jesuit University told Reuters Health.
The current study builds on previous work by Raudenbush and
his colleagues, which suggested that, by stimulating the
nervous system, peppermint and cinnamon odors enhance
motivation and performance, increase alertness, and decrease
fatigue among athletes and clerical office workers.
To test the effects of these odors on drivers, Raudenbush’s
group had 25 college undergrads sniff peppermint, cinnamon, or
a non-odor control for 30 seconds every 15 minutes during
simulated driving conditions.
In general, prolonged driving led to increased anger and
fatigue, and decreased vigor, they report.
However, with the peppermint scent, fatigue, anxiety, and
driver frustration ratings fell significantly, while driver
alertness ratings rose impressively.
Smelling cinnamon also made drivers more alert and lowered
their levels of frustration. Ratings of “workload” associated
with driving also fell with periodic whiffs of cinnamon.
Given these results, Raudenbush said, it is reasonable to
expect that periodic sniffs of peppermint or cinnamon may
produce a more alert and conscientious driver and minimize
fatigue associated with long road trips.
“While we used scents delivered through the nose, our past
research suggests that mints or gums could also provide the
same effects,” Raudenbush added.
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