Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “taste perception”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,135 records · Page 63Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Gustatory perception and metabolic utilization of sugars by Myrmica rubra ant workers.

The suitability of various nectar and honeydew sugars as a food source for the polyphagous ant species M. rubra (L.) was studied. The sugars used included monosaccharides (fructose, glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose), disaccharides (sucrose, maltose, trehalose, melibiose, lactose) and trisaccharides (melizitose, raffinose, erlose). Single-sugar solutions were tested on ant workers in a long-term laboratory bioassay in which acceptance of the solutions and ant survival were recorded. The acceptance of the sugars was confirmed in a second bioassay in which feeding time was established. Enzymatic hydrolysis of sucrose, maltose and melibiose was investigated through HPLC analyses of workers fed these disaccharides. Sugar acceptance and feeding time were related to ant survival. Considering the monosaccharide units of which the sugars are composed, fructose seems especially suitable as a short-term energy source, while glucose appears to be used both directly and for storage. The presence of a galactose unit appears to reduce sugar suitability. It is suggested that the workers possess invertase and maltase and to a lesser degree also galactosidase. The gustatory perception is correlated with the profitability of sugars in further metabolic processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Reciprocal functional connections of the olfactory bulbs and other olfactory related areas with the prefrontal cortex.

Reciprocal putative connections of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) (agranular insular, ventral and lateral orbital region) with the ipsi and contralateral main olfactory bulb (IOB; COB), the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD), the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA) and the piriform cortex (PC) were investigated with electrophysiological techniques. Evoked field responses and orthodromic unit driving, generated in PFC following electrical stimulation of the above mentioned structures, were abolished following topical application of KCl, except for COB evoked mass potentials. Thus, locally generated activity was elicited in agranular insular cortex following IOB activation, the same region where recently, the taste cortex in the rat was localized. Since gustatory-visceral afferent information reaches insular cortex via 2-3 synaptic relays, autonomic, olfactory and gustatory inputs may interact at this level, and, as suggested previously for the mouse, play a key integrative role in flavor perception. Antidromically invaded neurons, 47% of which were identified by the collision-extinction technique, were also found in PFC areas which overlapped to a considerable extent with those from which orthodromic unit responses were obtained. In particular, closely spaced neurons in ventrolateral orbital (VLO) and lateral orbital (LO) regions were antidromically invaded following IOB and PC shocks; some neurons antidromically discharged by IOB were also transsynaptically activated following PC stimulation. These findings are in agreement with recent neuroanatomical studies which demonstrate axonal projections from PFC neurons to the IOB and COB in the rat and South American armadillo. In addition, stimulation of PFC regions dorsal to the rhinal fissure mostly inhibited spontaneous unit discharges recorded at the mitral cell layer of the IOB, suggesting that this effect may be partially mediated by excitatory inputs of prefrontal axons onto granule cells. The conduction properties, antidromic thresholds and activity-dependent variations in conduction velocity (CV) of bulbopetal neurons in prefrontal cortex were found to be similar to those exhibited by cells projecting to the IOB from olfactory peduncle regions, but not to those present in bulbopetal neurons of the horizontal limb of diagonal band, indicating that the OB may be subjected to centrifugal control by at least two cell groups differing in both histochemical and electrophysiological properties.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2006

Long-term assessment after implantation of the Vibrant Soundbridge device.

OBJECTIVE: To present long-term results with a semi-implantable middle ear implant, the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB), and analyze pre- and post-operative results of audiologic tests. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review with additional patient interview and audiologic testing. SETTING: One tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS: Twenty patients who met the selection criteria of the manufacturer were evaluated at least two years after implantation. INTERVENTIONS: Monaural Implantation of the VSB in 20 patients, in two of these 20 patients implantation of the second ear in a second stage. RESULTS: Assessment of benefit and satisfaction using the standardized International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids, the Glasgow Benefit Inventory, and Visual Analogue Scales in all patients. Fifteen patients agreed to undergo audiologic testing at follow-up including pure-tone- and speech audiometry in silence and noise. The majority of patients (13/20) reported to be satisfied or very satisfied with the VSB. Aided speech perception was comparable between the VSB and the hearing aid preoperatively. When compared to the preoperative audiograms, residual hearing from 0.5-4 kHz was significantly worse in the operated ear with 8 dB (Wilcoxon signed rank test p < 0.001) but only 2.6 dB in the non-operated ear (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p > 0.05). Major surgical complications did not occur. Permanent alteration in taste occurred in three patients and revision surgery was necessary in another three patients. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction with the VSB was not superior to conventional hearing aids in subjective and in audiometric terms. Because of its impact on residual hearing and the requirement of implantation middle ear surgery, implantation of the VSB should be limited to patients with relevant side effects of hearing aids, e.g., severe chronic otitis externa.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

How blind was the patient blind in AMIS?

The Aspirin Myocardial Infarction Study (AMIS) was a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to test the effect of aspirin on the survival of 4524 people who had experienced a prior heart attack. Shortly before their closeout visits, 400 of the participants were randomly selected to be interviewed concerning their perceptions of their treatment assignments; 380 were actually interviewed. A bare majority (52)% correctly identified their study therapy, 28% mistakenly named the alternative treatment, 13% declined to guess, and 7% specified extraneous substances. According to the proposed formula for evaluating the patient blind, only 24% of the sample made "informed" guesses regarding their therapy, while the remainder guessed in an uninformed way or not at all. Those who tested their capsules (usually be taste) showed proportionately more correct responses than the nontesters. Correctness also varied with the reasons for the subjects' guesses (e.g., side effects). Among the sample as a whole, most people were only moderately or less than moderately certain their guess was correct. Even among those who were in fact correct, only 18% were absolutely certain of their choice.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Identification and quantification of geosmin, an earthy odorant contaminating wines.

Musty, earthy odors are highly detrimental to the aromatic quality of wines. A characteristic aroma of freshly tilled earth, damp cellar was studied in some red and white wines of different origins. The extraction and purification of the wines marked by this odor have shown after analysis by gas chromatography-olfactometry a unique strong odorous zone having the same odor as the one perceived at tasting. The compound responsible for this odorous zone was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as geosmin (trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol), which possesses a distinctive earthy odor. Geosmin may be present in wines at levels higher than the racemic geosmin olfactory perception threshold, thus suggesting its contribution to their off-aroma. Moreover, the presence of this compound in juice taken from freshly crushed grapes suggests that microorganisms that develop on the grapes may contribute to the presence of this compound in wines.

Food Contamination↗
PubMed1992

Effects of pecking incentives during rearing on feather pecking of laying hens.

1. Additional straw or grain was supplied to hens during rearing in floor pens with litter floors. During lay, hens were housed in pens with partly-littered partly-slatted floors. The effects on foraging behaviour and feather pecking were studied and feather damage was scored at 17, 30 and 42 weeks of age. 2. Supply of grain in the litter during rearing caused an increase in ground scratching. Ground pecking also tended to increase. Supply of straw had no significant effect on the observed behaviours. 3. Feather damage in the laying period was significantly reduced by providing grain during rearing. A similar tendency was found for groups that received straw during rearing. On the basis of the behavioural observations it was concluded that this better plumage cover was caused by less feather pecking. 4. The frequency of pecking at food was decreased during rearing by the supply of grain. This could not be explained solely on the basis of a lower food intake. Apparently the efficiency of pecking at food had changed as well. Behavioural data from the laying period suggest that this change was of a more permanent character. 5. The incentive value of the ground and the substrate covering it might be increased by the supply of grain during the rearing period. This causes foraging-related behaviours like scratching and pecking to be directed to the ground. The hens' perception of incentive stimuli for pecking is apparently influenced by experience during rearing. 6. To prevent birds redirecting their ground pecks to the feathers of other birds, not only the peckability/scratchability of the ground seems to be important but also other aspects like nutritive value or taste.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1984

Anatomical evidence for convergence of olfactory, gustatory, and visceral afferent pathways in mouse cerebral cortex.

Flavor perception requires the neural integration of olfactory, gustatory and, possibly, visceral afferent information. Presently, it is not known where, or how this integration takes place in the brain. Neuroanatomical data presented here suggest that pathways subserving these sensory modalities converge in mouse insular cortex after surprisingly few synaptic relays. Orthograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was used to label main olfactory bulb (MOB) efferents. A projection into layer I of insular cortex was present in every case. Bulb transections were made to provoke anterograde degeneration and EM analysis confirmed that the olfactory projection to insular cortex was a terminal pathway. WGA-HRP injections in the MOB-recipient zone of insular cortex resulted in ortho and retrograde labeling of ascending and descending gustatory-visceral afferent pathways. It is concluded that in the mouse, there is a remarkably direct convergence of olfactory and gustatory-visceral sensory pathways in insular cortex. Together with the descending connections from insular cortex to the amygdala and to brainstem autonomic structures, it is possible that the cortical integration of olfactory and gustatory-visceral information could modulate mechanisms involved in food selection and autonomic reactions relating to the chemical senses. Basic mechanisms subserving flavor perception might be usefully modelled in mouse insular cortex.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1999

The perceived intensity of caffeine aftertaste: tasters versus nontasters.

The length and intensity of the aftertaste of caffeine was measured in groups of tasters and nontasters in order to determine if any differential information could be provided by aftertaste perception. Results indicate that a period of 4 min is sufficient to see differences between tasters and nontasters, and that nontasters' aftertaste of the saturated solution is equal in intensity with tasters perception immediately after stimulus presentation, but then after approximately 1 min fade faster. Nontaster ratings for the weaker solution were lower throughout the entire time period.

Caffeine↗
PubMed1990

Consumers' perceptions of hospital food and dietary services.

Consumers' perceptions of the quality of hospital food, food-related service, clinical service, and their importance were determined through telephone interviews with 223 adults randomly selected from an urban county in Ohio. Respondents (greater than 65%) indicated that hospital food was of good quality for characteristics of taste, aroma, appearance, tenderness, cold temperature, freshness, and nutrient value. A substantial majority (greater than 74%) said that foodservice was dependable and accurate and that foodservice employees were helpful, cheerful, and considerate. These food and service characteristics were thought (greater than 71%) to be important to hospital meals, and a very large number (greater than 87%) of respondents considered these characteristics to be important to their hospitalization. About half (50.2%) viewed them as important in selecting a hospital. More than 82% thought registered dietitians were informative, helpful, and available to educate patients. Almost all (greater than 95%) considered nutrition counseling important to health care in the community. Of 17 quality characteristics considered, 14 were positively correlated (p less than .05) with the level of satisfaction with hospitalization. The three characteristics that were not significantly correlated with satisfaction were cold food being at the right temperature, meals looking delicious, and employees being cheerful.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Antennal sucrose perception in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.): behaviour and electrophysiology.

Physiological mechanisms of antennal sucrose perception in the honey bee were analysed using behavioural and electrophysiological methods. Following sucrose stimulation of the tip of a freely moving antenna, the latency of proboscis extension was 320-340 ms, 80-100 ms after the first activity in muscle M17 controlling this response. When bees were allowed to actively touch a sucrose droplet with one antenna, contacts with the solution were frequent with durations of 10-20 ms and average intervals between contacts of approximately 40 ms. High sucrose concentrations led to short and frequent contacts. The proboscis response and M17 activity were largely independent of stimulus duration and temporal pattern. Taste hairs of the antennal tip displayed spike responses to sucrose concentrations down to at least 0.1%. The first 25 ms of the response were suitable for discrimination of sucrose concentrations. This time interval corresponds to the duration of naturally occurring gustatory stimuli. Sucrose responses between different hairs on the same antenna showed a high degree of variability, ranging from less than five to over 40 spikes per 0.5 s for a stimulus of 0.1% sucrose. This variability of receptor responses extends the dynamic range of sucrose perception over a large range of concentrations.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1986

Visceral cortex lesions block conditioned taste aversions induced by morphine.

Rats with bilateral ibotenic acid or sham lesions of the visceral (agranular insular) cortex were tested for a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) to saccharin after five pairings of morphine sulphate injections (15 mg/kg IP) with consumption of a novel solution (0.1% saccharin). Lesioned animals demonstrated no evidence of the morphine-induced CTA that was seen in the sham operated animals. A third group of rats received ibotenic acid lesions but had saccharin consumption paired with saline vehicle injections. This group had the normal preference (seen in naive rats) for saccharin on testing, showing that the visceral cortex lesion had no effect on the ability of the rats to discriminate saccharin from water. In order to test if visceral cortex lesions abolish specifically the CTA induced by morphine, we ran a similar set of CTA experiments using two new novel flavours and either 15 or 75 mg/kg IP lithium chloride (LiCl) as the unconditioned stimuli. Dose dependent CTA's to the LiCl were established in all groups indicating that the visceral cortex plays no role in mediating the aversive effect of LiCl. Using the condition place preference paradigm we investigated the role of the visceral cortex in the expression of morphine's rewarding aspects. Identical place preferences were found in groups of rats with or without visceral cortex lesions suggesting that this cortical region plays no role in either the perception of morphine's rewarding effects or the association of morphine's rewarding properties with sensory stimuli. Visceral cortex lesions also had no effect on the establishment of a conditioned place aversion to a high dose of LiCl (75 mg/kg IP). Thus, visceral cortex appears critical for the establishment of a morphine-induced CTA, but is not crucial for mediating gross taste discrimination, the aversive aspects of LiCl nor the rewarding properties of morphine.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Kin recognition cues in Rana cascadae tadpoles.

The importance of chemical, visual, and auditory cues in kin recognition behavior in Rana cascadae tadpoles was tested in laboratory choice experiments. Tadpoles were given a choice of associating with siblings or nonsiblings by using visual and chemical stimuli together (standard tests), visual stimuli alone, or chemical stimuli alone. We also monitored sound production of tadpoles. We conclude that tadpoles can distinguish between siblings and nonsiblings by using waterborne chemical cues alone that are probably sensed by olfaction or taste. Visual stimuli alone are not sufficient for such discrimination and sound production as a means of communication in tadpoles is probably unimportant.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Identification and sensory evaluation of volatile compounds in oxidized porcine liver.

Headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used to isolate the off-flavor volatile compounds, which are formed during the oxidation of porcine liver induced by iron. Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene fiber was used in the HS-SPME. Changes in the volatile compounds of oxidized porcine liver and unsaturated fatty acids induced by iron were examined. Results showed that 1-octen-3-one (metallic), hexanol (weak metallic), 1-octen-3-ol (mushroomlike), (E)-2-nonenal (cardboardlike), and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (fatty, oily) were the main contributors to the overall off-flavor of porcine liver. The results of the sensory evaluation revealed that oxidized arachidonic acid has a major impact on metallic and liverlike off-flavor and that when liverlike off-flavor is perceived, metallic is also included. Oxidized linolenic acid was the most important contributor to the objectionable fishy off-flavor. Oxidized porcine liver exhibited distinct metallic, liverlike, and weak fishy background notes. Liverlike flavor had a high correlation coefficient with odor characteristics such as metallic (0.839) and fishy (0.777). In this study, it was clearly observed that the stronger the metallic and fishy off-flavor the higher the perception of liverlike off-flavor.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Association between regional idiopathic neuropathy and salivary involvement as the possible mechanism for oral sensory complaints.

UNLABELLED: The idiopathic sensorial disturbances of burning mouth syndrome (BMS), taste disturbances (dysgeusia), and dry mouth (xerostomia) have recently been recognized as one entity and given the generic name of oral sensorial complaints (OSC). However, not all patients with OSC complain of all three disturbances, and the underlying mechanism of OSC has not yet been elucidated. This study sought to determine whether OSC was associated with the alteration of oral sensory perception, salivary profile and/or personality traits. It examined 35 patients with OSC and 19 controls. Sensory perception was assessed by Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) applied to the tongue, including thresholds for thermal sensations and pain, and the magnitude estimation of tonic suprathreshold heat pain stimuli. The salivary profile included flow rate and compositional analysis. Personality traits were examined by both state and trait anxiety and somatization scoring. Results showed significantly elevated thermal sensory thresholds and decreased pain scores for tonic heat pain. In addition, there was an increased level of somatization in the OSC group as compared to the control group (15.1 +/- 1.5 vs. 6.6 +/- 2.1, respectively; P = .003). Concomitantly, altered salivary composition (elevated Na, K, Cl, Ca, IgA, and amylase concentrations)-but not salivary flow rate reduction-was observed in those patients despite their complaints of oral dryness. All parameters were similar among the patients with OSC regardless of their type of complaint. Linear regression analysis revealed that an elevated warm sensory threshold was associated with higher levels of salivary K and Cl concentrations in the patients with OSC. These findings may be attributed to a regional small fiber idiopathic neuropathy affecting oral sensation and salivary secretion in OSC. Alternatively, a primary idiopathic salivary dysfunction might cause sensory neural dysfunction at the receptor level by changing the oral cavity milieu. PERSPECTIVE: Based on the salivary, psychophysical, and personality traits analysis currently presented, as well as on the available literature, we hypothesize that a comprehensive mechanism for OSC is based on a regional neuropathy, which is expressed by complaints of BMS, taste disturbances, and/or xerostomia. All are clearly distinguishable from similar conditions with established organic/therapeutic-related etiologies.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The drugs or the disease? Causal attributions of symptoms held by HIV-positive adults on HAART.

Studies of HIV-related symptom and treatment side effect prevalence often fail to distinguish individual causal attributions between the two types of problems. However, an understanding of causal appraisals is critical to clarifying and intervening on coping in the context of HIV symptoms and treatment side effects. The objectives of this study are (1) to present causal attributions of symptoms reported by HIV+ adults taking combination therapy and (2) to describe the differential impact on health-related quality of life. In a cross-sectional interview study, a convenience sample of 109 HIV-positive adults taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were interviewed using a combination of self- and interviewer-administered measures of quality of life, physical problem checklists, and side effect and HIV-related symptom attribution assessments. The most prevalent physical problems were fatigue, stiff/painful joints, aching muscles, diarrhea, feelings of depression, and neuropathy. Those most commonly labeled as side effects of HAART included upset stomach, nausea/vomiting, constipation, and changes in taste. Most commonly cited as symptoms related to HIV disease were tender lymph nodes, night sweats, weight loss, fever, and loss of strength. Impact of side effects, symptoms, and both were associated with impaired physical and social functioning. Disease-related symptoms, but not side effects, were related to perceptions of general health. Results suggest that HIV-positive persons taking HAART make distinctions between symptoms of disease and side effects of treatment. Perceived disease-related symptoms and side effects have significant and unique associations with quality of life. Findings have implications for symptom and side effects management, provider relations, and future research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

A new specific ageusia: some humans cannot taste L-glutamate.

A new specific ageusia was found in human subjects for monosodium L-glutamate (MSG). Four tests were successively applied to discriminate non-tasters and hypotasters from tasters. (i) NaCl and MSG thresholds, and (ii) suprathreshold sensitivity were evaluated using the up-and-down procedure. Only 73% of 109 subjects common to both tests demonstrated a sensitivity for MSG significantly higher than their sensitivity to NaCl, and hence a specific sensitivity to L-glutamate. The remaining 27% who showed no significant difference in sensitivity to MSG and NaCl solutions were considered as putative hypotasters. (iii) Perception profiles (time-intensity) for MSG and NaCl were tested in 58 subjects and appeared significantly different in 47 tasters (81%). This technique helped in identifying among putative hypotasters of tests 1 and 2 a few tasters who perceived equal intensity for isoconcentration of NaCl and MSG but who could discriminate isomolar solutions on other cues. Thus, 19% of subjects, for whom no significant differences were found between MSG and NaCl time-intensity profiles, remained in the hypotaster group. (iv) A discrimination task including 24 triangular presentations per subject of NaCl and MSG 29 mM applied to the eight most severe hypotasters showed that two subjects at least (two of 58; 3.5%) could not discriminate between both stimuli. Moreover, these subjects probably perceived identical sensations for MSG and NaCl solutions. The six other hypotasters (10.3%) could discriminate both stimuli at the limit of significance. None of these eight subjects were able to identify the typical umami taste in 29 mM MSG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Interaction of soluble peptides and proteins from skeletal muscle with volatile compounds in model systems as affected by curing agents.

The effect of curing agents (salt, glucose, nitrate, nitrite, and ascorbic acid) on the binding of skeletal peptides (carnosine and anserine) and a sarcoplasmic protein (myoglobin) with key flavor compounds (hexanal, octanal, 2-pentanone, 2-methylbutanal, and 3-methylbutanal) has been studied by solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Curing agents had an effect on the interaction process between carnosine and volatile compounds, which was higher than the interactions observed with anserine and myoglobin. Sodium chloride decreased the interaction of volatiles with carnosine except for octanal, which was increased, and 2-pentanone, which was unaltered. Ascorbic acid exerted the highest effect by decreasing the interaction of carnosine with all of the volatile compounds except for octanal and 2-pentanone. The interaction with anserine was affected by sodium chloride, nitrate, and nitrite, producing a decrease in the interaction with hexanal, octanal, and methional. Finally, sodium chloride, glucose, and nitrite increased the interaction of myoglobin with hexanal, octanal, and methional. The effect of simulated stages of the curing process on the binding was also studied. A combined effect of the curing agents resulted in a change in the relative proportions of volatile compounds that can lead to different flavor perceptions of dry-cured meat products.

Anserine↗