Human cortical gustatory areas: A review of functional neuroimaging data

IN an effort to define human cortical gustatory areas we reviewed functiona l neuroimaging data for which coordinates standardized in Talairach proport ional space were available. We observed a wide distribution of peaks within the insula and parietal and frontal opercula, suggesting multiple gustator y regions within this cortical area. Multiple peaks also emerged in the orb itofrontal cortex. However, only two peaks, both in the right hemisphere, w ere observed in the caudolateral orbitofrontal cortex, the region likely ho mologous to the secondary taste area described in monkeys. Overall signific antly more peaks originated from the right hemisphere suggesting asymmetric al cortical representation of taste favoring the right hemisphere. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.