The poetry of senses: exploring semantic mediation in timbre-aroma correspondences.

ABSTRACT: Cross-modal correspondences between audition and olfaction have received relatively less attention compared to other modality pairs. This study expands on previous work regarding timbre-aroma correspondences by examining the semantic mediation hypothesis, according to which cross-modal correspondences may be partly explained by the existence of common semantic qualities. In a behavioral experiment, 26 musically trained participants rated 26 complex synthetic tones and 12 aromatic stimuli across two separate blocks using a common set of semantic scales. The analysis of semantic variables identified a largely consistent organization for both modalities, condensing into three prominent clusters: [bright, fresh, sweet], [sharp, metallic], and [full, rich, warm]. Furthermor

SUBMITTER: Zacharakis A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11894736 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature