Dataset

This study investigated the role of predictive processing (PP) in shaping olfactory perception within a virtual reality (VR) setting by manipulating participants' short term prior expectations of olfactory cues. The results revealed a significant difference between the manipulation and control groups regarding reported olfactory sensations, with participants in the manipulation group rating olfactory realism significantly higher than those in the control group. Those in the manipulation group described detailed scents related to the VR experience in the 360° amazonian jungle, after implemented with the believe that the experiment condition had actually modelled olfaction. These findings provide empirical support for the PP framework in the olfactory modality, demonstrating that short-term expectation manipulations can influence sensory experiences.