Long-lasting effects of lavender exposure on brain resting-state networks in healthy women

This study uses resting-state fMRI to analyze how prolonged odor exposure affects brain activity and whether its effects persist after stimulation. The tested odor was lavender, and the analysis examined brain activity after a 2-hour exposure.

In this study, 14 healthy women were exposed to lavender essential oil or a neutral scent for 14 minutes. Using resting-state fMRI, brain activity was measured before, during, and up to two hours after exposure to assess lavender’s effects and compare them with the neutral condition.​

The experiment demonstrates that exposure to an odorant has lasting effects on the brain, measurable up to two hours after exposure. This paves the way for new research on the impact of aromatherapy and odor exposure interventions on brain activity. Download the scientific publication to dive deeper into the research !