Abstract

Objective: Emotion and memory are central to experiential dynamic psychotherapies that value accessing unintegrated emotional experiences. Despite distinctive olfactory connections to emotion and memory circuits, olfaction remains underexplored in experiential dynamic psychotherapy. This narrative review examines olfaction, memory, and emotional processing, proposing a conceptual framework for targeted olfactory stimulation as an evocative sensory cue in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).

Methods: This narrative review synthesized English- and Persian-language literature published between 1979 and 2026. PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were searched between June and September 2026 using terms including olfaction, odor, smell, autobiographical memory, emotional processing, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and ISTDP. Searches were targeted rather than exhaustive, and sources meeting explicit eligibility criteria were included. A thematic synthesis integrated findings across cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and psychotherapy, distinguishing established evidence from emerging findings.

Results: Olfactory cues can evoke emotionally salient autobiographical memories and engage affective and mnemonic circuits, although specificity, vividness, and intensity vary across individuals and conditions. Olfactory stimulation may influence emotional responses and mood. Preliminary research combining olfactory training with Davanloo-based interventions offers an initial basis for multimodal approaches, yet direct evidence for targeted olfactory stimulation within ISTDP remains limited.

Conclusion: Established evidence links olfaction to emotional and memory processing; preliminary studies suggest only the practicability of combining olfactory training with psychodynamic therapy; and targeted olfactory stimulation in ISTDP remains an untested hypothesis. Controlled research is needed to distinguish olfactory training from targeted olfactory stimulation and to evaluate their contributions to therapeutic outcomes.