The Forensic Psychology of Olfaction Evidence (Ce ARTICLE: 1.5 CE Credits) (Report‪)‬

ABSTRACT This review centers on sensation and perception literature regarding olfaction as relevant to forensic examination from the perspective of rules of evidence, differential psychology, and psychophysics. Many advances have been made in the past fifty years in the study of olfaction, probably more so than for any of the other senses. There is reliable agreement among experts on the definition, anatomy, and physiology of the olfaction sense and on how odors are learned and associated with events by conditioning. Because the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system, an area closely associated with memory and feeling, a smell can call up conditioned responses instantaneously. The reliability and validity of olfaction has been underutilized as evidence. When used as part of a Bayesian analysis, olfaction can provide significant confirming evidence. Presented in a court as testimony, olfaction evidence can withstand the same rules of evidence and cross-examination procedures as other parts of witness reports.