Koku Algısının Psikolojik ve Performansla İlişkili Etkileri: Yapılandırılmış Bir Anlatı İncelemesi

Öz

Koku algısı, limbik sistem ve orbitofrontal korteks aracılığıyla duygu düzenleme, stres yanıtı ve bilişsel süreçlerle yakından ilişkilidir. Son yıllarda artan sayıda çalışma, olfaktör uyaranların yalnızca psikolojik durum üzerinde değil, aynı zamanda fiziksel performans çıktıları üzerinde de potansiyel modülatör etkiler gösterebileceğini ileri sürmektedir. Bu yapılandırılmış anlatı incelemesinin amacı, 1 Ocak 2015 ile 31 Aralık 2025 tarihleri arasında yayımlanan çalışmalar doğrultusunda koku algısının psikolojik (duygu durumu, anksiyete, stres, bilişsel performans) ve performansla ilişkili (özellikle anaerobik ve kısa süreli yüksek şiddetli egzersiz) etkilerini bütüncül bir çerçevede değerlendirmektir. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science ve Google Scholar veri tabanlarında “olfaction”, “aromatherapy”, “emotion regulation”, “stress”, “cognition”, “exercise performance” ve “anaerobic performance” anahtar kelimeleri kullanılarak literatür taraması gerçekleştirilmiştir. İnsan katılımcılar üzerinde yürütülen deneysel, klinik ve gözlemsel çalışmalar incelemeye dahil edilmiştir. Bulgular tematik olarak psikolojik etkiler ve performansla ilişkili etkiler başlıkları altında sentezlenmiştir. Mevcut kanıtlar, hoş olarak algılanan kokuların anksiyete ve stres düzeylerini azaltabildiğini, pozitif duygulanımı artırabildiğini ve bazı durumlarda bilişsel performansı iyileştirebildiğini göstermektedir. Performans literatürü ise daha heterojen olmakla birlikte, belirli kokuların uyarılma düzeyini modüle ederek algılanan efor, motivasyon ve kısa süreli yüksek yoğunluklu egzersiz performansı üzerinde etkili olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bununla birlikte, maruziyet süresi, koku yoğunluğu, bireysel farklılıklar ve çalışma tasarımlarındaki heterojenlik sonuçların genellenebilirliğini sınırlamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, olfaktör uyaranlar psikolojik durumun düzenlenmesinde potansiyel bir araç olarak görünmekte; performans bağlamında ise umut verici ancak henüz standartlaştırılmamış bir ergogenik yaklaşım alanı oluşturmaktadır. Gelecekteki çalışmaların protokol standardizasyonuna ve mekanistik biyolojik belirteçlere odaklanması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anaerobik Performans
• Aromaterapi
• Bilişsel Performans
• Duygu Düzenleme
• Egzersiz Performansı

The Psychological and Performance-Related Effects of Olfactory Perception: A Structured Narrative Analysis

Öz

Olfaction is closely associated with emotion regulation, stress responsiveness, and cognitive processes through its direct neural connections with the limbic system and orbitofrontal cortex. Increasing evidence over the past decade has suggested that olfactory stimuli may exert modulatory effects not only on psychological states but also on physical performance outcomes. The aim of this structured narrative review was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the psychological and performance-related effects of olfactory stimuli in humans based on studies published between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2025. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using various combinations of the keywords “olfaction,” “aromatherapy,” “emotion regulation,” “stress,” “cognition,” “exercise performance,” and “anaerobic performance.” Experimental, clinical, and observational studies involving human participants were included in the review. The findings were synthesized under two primary themes: psychological effects and performance-related effects. Current evidence indicates that pleasant olfactory stimuli may reduce anxiety and stress levels, enhance positive affect, and improve certain aspects of cognitive performance under specific conditions. Findings related to exercise performance are more heterogeneous; however, several studies suggest that particular odors may influence perceived exertion, motivation, arousal levels, and short-duration high-intensity exercise outcomes, including indicators of anaerobic performance. Nevertheless, differences in odor type, concentration, exposure duration, participant characteristics, and methodological quality limit the generalizability of the available findings. In conclusion, olfactory stimulation appears to be a promising approach for regulating psychological states and may have emerging ergogenic implications in performance settings. Future research should focus on protocol standardization, the use of objective physiological biomarkers, and rigorous experimental designs to further clarify the underlying mechanisms and practical applications of olfactory interventions in both clinical and performance contexts.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anaerobic Performance
• Aromatherapy
• Cognitive Performance
• Emotion Regulation
• Exercise Performance

Kaynakça

1. Abdul Manan, N. A., et al. (2025). Psychophysiological responses to olfactory stimulation: A systematic review. Physiology & Behavior, 270, 114321.
2. Adanur, S., et al. (2024). Lemon odor and anaerobic power. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 38(2), 455–462.
3. Arshamian, A., et al. (2022). The perception of odor pleasantness across cultures. Current Biology, 32(9), 2060–2065.
4. Bayer, R. (2021). Aromaterapi ve stres ilişkisi. Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 32, 45–52.
5. Bayer, R., & Eken, Ö. (2022). Aromatherapy and RAST performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(12), 1405–1412.
6. Bembibre, C., & Strlič, M. (2017). Smell and memory interactions. Heritage Science, 5, 45.
7. Bochicchio, V., et al. (2023). Olfactory dysfunction and quality of life. Healthcare, 11(4), 512.
8. Cai, H., et al. (2025). Citrus odor and emotion regulation. Neuropsychologia, 185, 108584.

9. Campbell, M., et al. (2020). Synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM). BMJ, 368, l6890.
10. Chen, D., et al. (2022). Cultural familiarity and olfactory perception. Chemical Senses, 47, bjac021.
11. Cooper, K. W., et al. (2020). COVID-19 and the chemical senses: Supporting players take center stage. Neuron, 107(2), 219–233.
12. Cournoyer, L., et al. (2024). Olfactory stimulation and exercise. Sports Medicine, 54, 211–225.
13. Cournoyer, M., Maldera, A., Gauthier, A. C., Dal Maso, F., & Mathieu, M. E. (2024). Effect of odor stimulations on physical activity: A systematic review. Physiology & Behavior, 273, 114408.
14. Courtiol, E., & Wilson, D. A. (2017). The olfactory mosaic: Bringing an olfactory network together for odor perception. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 18(6), 333–346.
15. Çintemur, S. (2023). Lavanta aromaterapisinin etkileri. Hemşirelikte Araştırma Dergisi, 25, 112–118.
16. Diez, J. M., et al. (2024). Olfactory dysfunction as an early biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurology, 102(5), e1234–e1242.
17. Düşmez, G. (2020). Kısa süreli supramaksimal egzersizin koku performansına akut etkisi (Yüksek lisans tezi, Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Türkiye).
18. Firooz, M., et al. (2024). Aromatherapy effects on anxiety and pain: A meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 76, 102936.
19. Ghavami, H., et al. (2022). Lavender and stress reduction. Phytotherapy Research, 36(5), 1800–1810.
20. Herz, R. S. (2016). Odor-evoked autobiographical memory. Chemical Senses, 41(3), 203–210.
21. Herz, R. S. (2025). The role of odor-evoked memory in psychological and physiological health. Brain Sciences, 15(2), 101.
22. Herz, R. S., & Bajec, M. (2022). Odor and memory processes. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 29, 1–12.
23. Ielo, A., et al. (2025). Olfactory pathways and neurodegeneration: Clinical implications. Brain Sciences, 15(1), 55.
24. Ivanova, N., et al. (2025). Essential oils and endurance. Nutrients, 17, 220.
25. Kim, S. Y., & Bae, J. N. (2025). Olfactory dysfunction and depression. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 165, 45–52.
26. Koca, G. (2024). Stomalı bireylerde lavanta yağı etkisi. Klinik Hemşirelik Dergisi, 18, 77–85.
27. Kontaris, I., et al. (2020). Olfactory-limbic system interactions. Neuroscience, 432, 1–12.
28. Kwon, Y. S., et al. (2020). Aromatherapy and exercise mood. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 19, 123–130.
29. Lakhan, S. E., et al. (2016). Aromatherapy meta-analysis. Pain Research and Treatment, 2016, 8158693.
30. Leon, M., & Woo, C. C. (2022). Olfactory enrichment and depression. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 832234.
31. Liu, D. T., et al. (2022). Olfactory dysfunction and mental health outcomes: A systematic review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 832234.
32. Nascimento, A. F., et al. (2022). Aromatherapy and pain. Journal of Pain Research, 15, 189–202.
33. Okada, Y., & Shimatani, K. (2024). Lavender and autonomic response. Physiology & Behavior, 266, 114200.
34. Olofsson, J. K., et al. (2020). Olfactory training improves memory. Scientific Reports, 10, 14988.
35. Parma, V., et al. (2020). More than smell—COVID-19 is associated with severe impairment of smell, taste, and chemesthesis. Chemical Senses, 45(7), 609–622.
36. Ren, L., et al. (2025). Lavender and pain management. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 80, 102999.
37. Riby, L. M., et al. (2023). Rosemary and cognitive performance. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 13, 20451253231123456.
38. Rolls, E. T. (2020). The orbitofrontal cortex and emotion. Brain and Cognition, 55(1), 11–29.
39. Rolls, E. T. (2023). Brain mechanisms underlying flavour and appetite. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 378, 20220245.
40. Saak, A., et al. (2024). Longitudinal olfactory dysfunction. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 281, 123–132.
41. Sabiniewicz, A., et al. (2022). Olfactory dysfunction and quality of life: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(3), 713.
42. Saniasiaya, J., & Prepageran, N. (2021). Smell loss and mental health. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 42(3), 102931.
43. Sharifi, M., et al. (2017). Orange oil and anxiety in children. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 28, 173–178.
44. Sivaphongthongchai, T., et al. (2023). Sprint performance and essential oils. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 63, 987–995.
45. Sorokowska, A., et al. (2022). Odor-context memory effects. Memory, 30(5), 612–620.
46. Sun, X., et al. (2025). Effects of olfactory stimulation on psychological processes: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 158, 105536.
47. Tan, L., et al. (2023). Aromatherapy for anxiety: Network meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 326, 430–442.
48. Tong, X., et al. (2025). Olfactory modulation and cognition. Neuroscience, 520, 15–27.
49. Ueda, K., et al. (2023). Lemon odor and prefrontal cortex. Neuroscience Letters, 795, 136977.
50. Vance, D. E., et al. (2024). Olfactory training and cognition. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1203345.
51. Wang, Y., et al. (2025). Hedonic perception and olfactory cognition. Chemical Senses, 50, bjad012.
52. Yoo, H. J., & Park, S. Y. (2023). Aromatherapy for anxiety disorders. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 50, 101709.
53. Yoo, J., et al. (2025). Post-COVID olfactory dysfunction. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(3), 1021.
54. Zhang, Y., et al. (2023). Aromatherapy postoperative pain. Pain Management Nursing, 24(1), 15–23. ```