The use of ‘artificial saliva’ as a neutral control condition in gustatory research: Artificial saliva is not a neutral gustatory stimulus
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
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Yn: Physiology and Behavior, Cyfrol 229, 02.2021, t. 113254.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
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T1 - The use of ‘artificial saliva’ as a neutral control condition in gustatory research: Artificial saliva is not a neutral gustatory stimulus
AU - Baines, Stephanie
AU - Hensels, Imca S.
AU - Talmi, Deborah
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Distilled water with NaHCO3 and KCl is a solution often referred to as ‘artificial saliva’ because its chemical composition mimics human saliva. It is often used as a control stimulus in gustatory research, especially in neuroimaging, owing to the claim that it does not produce a response in primary gustatory cortex Yet evidence that human research volunteers perceive this liquid as affectively neutral is lacking. Unpublished data from our lab suggested that this solution might be perceived as aversive. This study set out to systematically test the parameters influencing taste neutrality. We used two different concentrations of distilled water with NaHCO3 and KCl, as well as bottled water as a control stimulus. Healthy adults rated all stimuli on two separate scales to rule out an interpretation based on the specifics of a single scale. Our participants rated artificial saliva as aversive on both scales. The bottled water was rated as neutral in valence on both scales, and as significantly less intense in sensation than both concentrations of the artificial saliva. This is the first study to have directly tested the subjective feelings that accompany the ingestion of these oft-used solutions on a trial-by-trial basis. We found that these stimuli, which were previously assumed to be neutral, may not be perceived as such by research participants. Therefore, future gustatory studies should take care when using this solution as a neutral baseline. It is advised that trial-by-trial ratings are collected. Also, depending on the nature of future studies, bottled water may be considered as a preferable neutral baseline.
AB - Distilled water with NaHCO3 and KCl is a solution often referred to as ‘artificial saliva’ because its chemical composition mimics human saliva. It is often used as a control stimulus in gustatory research, especially in neuroimaging, owing to the claim that it does not produce a response in primary gustatory cortex Yet evidence that human research volunteers perceive this liquid as affectively neutral is lacking. Unpublished data from our lab suggested that this solution might be perceived as aversive. This study set out to systematically test the parameters influencing taste neutrality. We used two different concentrations of distilled water with NaHCO3 and KCl, as well as bottled water as a control stimulus. Healthy adults rated all stimuli on two separate scales to rule out an interpretation based on the specifics of a single scale. Our participants rated artificial saliva as aversive on both scales. The bottled water was rated as neutral in valence on both scales, and as significantly less intense in sensation than both concentrations of the artificial saliva. This is the first study to have directly tested the subjective feelings that accompany the ingestion of these oft-used solutions on a trial-by-trial basis. We found that these stimuli, which were previously assumed to be neutral, may not be perceived as such by research participants. Therefore, future gustatory studies should take care when using this solution as a neutral baseline. It is advised that trial-by-trial ratings are collected. Also, depending on the nature of future studies, bottled water may be considered as a preferable neutral baseline.
KW - Artificial saliva
KW - NaHCO
KW - KCl
KW - Gustatory processing
KW - Neutral taste
U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113254
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113254
M3 - Article
VL - 229
SP - 113254
JO - Physiology and Behavior
JF - Physiology and Behavior
SN - 0031-9384
ER -