In this study, it was observed through the ability of performing secondary tasks and baseline fetal heart rate how the supply of lavender, peppermint and highly concentrated oxygen (40%) affected distraction due to the performance of secondary tasks in the driving environment. Twelve male university students conducted secondary tasks while driving in the environments (6 in total) mixed and designed with oxygen concentration (21%, 40%) and the condition of odors (Normal, Lavender, Peppermint). The test was proceeded in order of stable state (5mins), driving (5mins), and secondary tasks (1min), and by extracting ECG data from every section by 30secs, the mean value of baseline fetal heart rate was calculated. As a result of analysis, in the ability of performing secondary tasks, a percentage of correct answers showed no difference in oxygen concentration and the condition of odors (p > 0.05). In performance completion time, a percentage of correct answers decreased showing a statistically significant difference in the condition of odors compared with the condition where odors were not provided (p < 0.05). As for baseline fetal heart rate, in the comparison between sections, while performing secondary tasks, it increased showing a significant difference compared with stable state and driving state (p < 0.05). The effect of interaction was observed in oxygen concentration and the condition of odors. When odors were not provided, baseline fetal heart rate decreased in 40% oxygen concentration compared with 21% oxygen concentration (p < 0.05), however, when peppermint was provided, it increased in 40% oxygen concentration compared with 21% oxygen concentration (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the fact that the condition of odors increased the ability of calculation, and when only the highly concentrated oxygen was provided, parasympathetic nerve system was activated, however, when highly concentrated oxygen was provided with peppermint at the same time, sympathetic nervous system (sns) was activated, which had a negative effect on the autonomic nervous system was drawn.

판매직에 종사하는 여성을 대상으로 100%의 Basil oil, Lavender oil, Lemon oil, Jasmin oil, Ylang-ylang oil (KIMEX co. Ltd), Skatole의 총 6가지 종류의 천연향을 사용하여 자극하였을 때의 상호 정보량을 분석, 비교하였다. 그 결과, 선호도가 낮은 Basil과 Skatole을 자극할 때 무향에 비해 상호 정보량이 많고, 향간의 비교에서도 선호도가 낮은 향에 대한 상호 정보량이 선호도가 높은 향에 비해 더 많음을 보여주었다. 이는 뇌에서 상호 정보량이 향에 대한 선호도와 관련이 있고, 특히 선호도가 낮은 향의 경우, 정보량의 증가 경향이 확인되었다.

본 연구에서는 단순노무직, 판매직, 전문직에 종사하는 피험자를 대상으로 100%의 basil oil, lavender oil, lemon oil, jasmine oil, ylang-ylang oil (KIMEX co. Ltd, Korea), skatole (TAKASAGO co. Ltd, Japan)등 총 6가지 종류의 천연향에 대한 두뇌의 정보량 흐름을 파악하기 위해 상호 정보량을 검토하였다. 그 결과, 전문직에서는 상호 정보량의 유의한 변화가 전두엽 사이(F3F4)에서 나타난 반면, 단순노무직과 판매직에서는 전두엽(F3F4), 두정엽(P3P4), 측두엽(T5T6) 사이에서 모두 나타났다 두 직종과 비교하여 전문직이 주로 외부 자극에 대한 고차원적 기능을 담당하는 전두엽영역의 정보량에서 유의한 변화를 보인 것은 향을 전문적으로 구분하고, 확인하는 그들의 직업적 특성을 반영한 결과라 추측된다. 또한, 단순노무직과 달리, 전문직과 판매직은 선호도가 낮은 향에서 상호 정보량이 증가하는 경향을 보여, 향 관련 종사자들의 선호도와 상호 정보량간의 관련성을 시사하였다.