The News
Study probes odor, sleep and memory link
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 03/08/2007 08:18:26 PM MST
WASHINGTON- Doctors have long advised that a good night's sleep is important for memory—but researchers now say a familiar scent wafting in the bedroom might help sometimes, too. The caveat: In the study, being published Friday in the journal Science, it only worked for some kinds of memories and during one stage of sleep, meaning it's not the answer for people hunting a quick memory boost.
German scientists used medical students as their guinea pigs, having them play a computer version of a common memory game: They turned over pairs of cards to find each one's match.
Some played in a rose-scented room. Later that night, while they were in a deep stage of sleep known as slow-wave sleep, researchers gave them another whiff of roses.

The Research
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science.