Consistent verbal labels promote odor category learning

Recent research shows that speakers of most languages find smells difficult to abstract and name. Can verbal labels enhance the human capacity learn smell categories? Few studies have examined how labeling might affect non-visual cognitive processes, thus far very little is known about word-assisted odor category learning. To address these gaps, we tested whether different types training change learning gains in categorization. After four intensive days categorize odors were co-presented with arbitrary labels, people who learned categories odor-label pairs more consistent significantly accurate than same perceptual experience but had less consistent. Both groups' accuracy scores improved, curves differed. The context linguistic cuing supported an increase correct responses from third day training. However, inconsistent delayed start approximating target categorization until after fourth day. These results show associations formed between novel facilitate formation categories. We interpret this as showing a causal link language olfactory processing supporting