New analysis from RMIT College discovered confined and isolating environments modified the way in which folks smelled and responded emotionally to sure meals aromas.
The workforce on this examine in contrast 44 folks’s emotional responses and notion of eight meals aromas in two environmental situations: sitting in reclined chairs that mimic astronauts’ posture in microgravity; after which within the confined setting of the Worldwide Area Station (ISS), which was simulated for individuals with digital actuality goggles.
The aromas the workforce examined on individuals had been vanilla, almond, lemon, lemon myrtle, eucalyptus, peppermint, vinegar and lemongrass.
The analysis, printed in Meals Analysis Worldwide, builds on earlier work by the workforce and goals to assist clarify why astronauts report meals style completely different in house and wrestle to eat their regular dietary consumption over lengthy missions, which has been reported within the information just lately.
The examine has broader implications for additional analysis to enhance the diets of remoted folks, together with nursing dwelling residents, by personalizing aromas to reinforce the flavour of their meals.
Most meals aromas had been perceived extra intensely within the VR simulation
Co-lead Dr Julia Low stated the workforce discovered the VR simulation supplied an immersive expertise of a confined surroundings, evoking extra intense perceptions of all of the meals aromas examined, besides lemongrass, than the microgravity posture.
Her RMIT colleague Dr. Lisa Newman co-led the analysis and PhD scholar Grace Loke was the primary writer.
Lemongrass consists of a extra floral and earthy aroma, whereas the opposite aromas are pungent, spicy or candy.
This distinction in profile might clarify why lemongrass appeared much less intense within the VR setting in comparison with the microgravity posture.”
Grace Loke, First Writer
Confined, isolating environments affect sense of scent
In an Earth-like setting, consuming was typically social, however consuming in house on lengthy missions can really feel fairly completely different, Low stated.
“Pilot research present that spending 10 minutes in VR can induce emotions of confinement, highlighting VR’s effectiveness over different strategies akin to immersive screens.
“Outcomes point out {that a} distant, confined surroundings such because the ISS and a major variation in private sensitivities affect aroma notion, guaranteeing meals scent unusual.”
Area research typically emphasised microgravity as the primary contributing issue to meals’s completely different style, however the workforce’s findings underscored the influence of confined and remoted environments, Loke stated.
“This analysis opens prospects for personalised meal plans for astronauts and people dwelling alone on Earth, showcasing VR’s potential to discover variations in consuming when burdened,” she stated.
Feelings color how we understand sure polarising aromas
Within the VR setting, individuals reporting optimistic feelings perceived stronger aromas.
For instance, almond and vinegar turned extra intense when individuals had been joyful or skilled a optimistic emotion, but when an individual was even mildly burdened they perceived a much less intense vinegar aroma, Loke stated.
This hyperlink between stress and vinegar might assist clarify why astronauts prefer to eat sure meals in microgravity that they do not usually take pleasure in on Earth, Newman stated.
Subsequent steps
Newman stated future research would mix the microgravity posture with the VR expertise for individuals, to higher simulate the astronaut expertise and design meals plans for longer missions, together with journeys to Mars.
“Our findings recommend a simulation utilizing VR and the microgravity posture may assist in coaching astronauts to adapt psychologically to confined and distant consuming areas and personalise meal experiences for astronauts, in addition to remoted people on Earth, to help their wellbeing,” Newman stated.
Low stated the analysis was a part of a collection of small however impactful research, offering foundational insights into the significance of finding out particular person variation and the way people react to consuming in additional demanding environments.
“This analysis collectively highlights the important position of our surroundings on style and scent.”
The workforce desires to research how folks style meals in several environments and is recruiting individuals. In the event you dwell in Melbourne and wish to take part, contact [email protected]
‘Meals odor notion and affective response in digital spacecraft and microgravity physique posture (1-G) – potential ground-based simulations’ is printed in Meals Analysis Worldwide (DOI: to be supplied).
Different associated peer-reviewed analysis from the workforce consists of:
‘Improvement of a digital actuality spacecraft surroundings as a ground-based analog for accumulating house meals sensory information (‘Meals in Area’)’ in Science Talks (DOI: 10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100391)
‘Exploring fundamentals of immersive surroundings setups on meals sensory notion in house contexts’ in Science Talks (DOI: 10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100403)
Supply:
Journal reference:
Loke, G., et al. (2024) Meals odour notion and affective response in Digital spacecraft and microgravity physique posture (1-G) – Potential ground-based simulations. Meals Analysis Worldwide. doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115260.
