Peppermint, Cinnamon Pep Up Drivers

Last Updated: 2006-02-01 12:16:05 -0400 (Reuters Health)
By Megan Rauscher

 

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - To stay alert behind the wheel on long road
trips, skip the coffee and try sniffing peppermint or cinnamon.
Researchers from West Virginia have found that getting a whiff of pleasant odors
periodically while driving increases alertness, reduces fatigue, and
even lowers drivers' anxiety and frustration.

 

Increased driver alertness could lead to fewer accidents on the highway
and decreased frustration could translate into fewer instances of "road
rage," Dr. Bryan Raudenbush from Wheeling Jesuit University told Reuters
Health.

 

The current study builds on previous work by Raudenbush and his
colleagues, which suggested that, by stimulating the nervous system, peppermint and
cinnamon odors enhance motivation and performance, increase alertness,
and decrease fatigue among athletes and clerical office workers.
To test the effects of these odors on drivers, Raudenbush's group had
25 college undergrads sniff peppermint, cinnamon, or a non-odor control
for 30 seconds every 15 minutes during simulated driving conditions.
In general, prolonged driving led to increased anger and fatigue, and
decreased vigor, they report.

 

However, with the peppermint scent, fatigue, anxiety, and driver
frustration ratings fell significantly, while driver alertness ratings rose
impressively.

 

Smelling cinnamon also made drivers more alert and lowered their levels
of frustration. Ratings of "workload" associated with driving also fell
with periodic whiffs of cinnamon.

 

Given these results, Raudenbush said, it is reasonable to expect that
periodic sniffs of peppermint or cinnamon may produce a more alert and
conscientious driver and minimize fatigue associated with long road
trips.

 

"While we used scents delivered through the nose, our past research
suggests that mints or gums could also provide the same effects," Raudenbush
added.