Automated electrogustometry: a new paradigm for the estimation of taste detection thresholds

Electrogustometery, first introduced in the 1950s for the clinical assessme nt of taste function, has returned to favour in recent years. This is due, in part, to the credence given to the procedure by an increased understandi ng of the mechanisms of taste transduction. The reliability and validity of electrogustometric assessments of taste function should increase with the use of automated testing. An automated computer-controlled testing paradigm was used to obtain threshold estimates simultaneously from the left and ri ght sides of the tongue in 97 volunteers aged between 17 and 63 years. A sm all but statistically significant advantage was found for thresholds from t he right side of the tongue (P < 0.01). The range of thresholds, and of int erside differences obtained with this procedure, are reported, and practica l issues related to testing are discussed.