P. Tunsuriyawong et al., Effects of a pressure surround on the regional taste detection threshold for sodium chloride, ACT OTO-LAR, 120(1), 2000, pp. 81-86
The question as to whether tactile stimulation alters proximal taste functi
on in humans has never been answered, despite the suggestion of anatomical
and physiological associations between somatosensory and gustatory function
in a number of species. In this study, we established NaCl detection thres
holds for a 25 mm(2) anterior tongue region on four test occasions in each
of 12 men and 12 women. Testing was performed using the Regional Automated
Taste Testing System (RATTS). a device that allows for accurate temporal an
d spatial presentation of tastants to the lingual surface. On each test occ
asion, a different negative pressure (vacuum suction) was applied around th
e stimulus presentation field of the glass stimulation device (i.e. 40; 50,
60 and 70 mmHg). The order of presentation of the vacua was systematically
counterbalanced among subjects across sessions using 4 x 4 Latin square se
quences. Neither the vacua nor their order of presentation meaningfully alt
ered the taste threshold values; even though the higher vacua produced pers
istent discernible discomfort in most subjects. On average, taste threshold
s tended to be marginally lower in women than in men. These data indicate t
hat static vacuum-induced tactile stimulation around a discrete anterior ta
ste field has no meaningful influence on NaCl detection threshold sensitivi
ty.