Coactivation of Gustatory and Olfactory Signals in Flavor Perception

Abstract

It is easier to detect mixtures of gustatory and olfactory flavorants than to detect either component alone. But does the detection of mixtures exceed the level predicted by probability summation, assuming independent detection of each component? To answer this question, we measured simple response times (RTs) to detect brief pulses of one of 3 flavorants (sucrose [gustatory], citral [olfactory], sucrose-citral mixture) or water, presented into the mouth by a computer-operated, automated flow system. Subjects were instructed to press a button as soon as they detected any of the 3 nonwater stimuli. Responses to the mixtures were faster (RTs smaller) than predicted by a model of probability summation of independently detected signals, suggesting positive coactivation (integration) of gustation and retronasal olfaction in flavor perception. Evidence for integration appeared mainly in the fastest 60% of the responses, indicating that integration arises relatively early in flavor processing. Results were similar when the 3 possible flavorants, and water, were interleaved within the same session (experimental condition), and when each flavorant was interleaved with water only (control conditions). This outcome suggests that subjects did not attend selectively to one flavor component or the other in the experimental condition and further supports the conclusion that (late) decisional or attentional strategies do not exert a large influence on the gustatory-olfactory flavor integration.

Cross-modal interactions between taste and smell: Odour-induced saltiness enhancement depends on salt level

“…It has been shown that the coactivation of taste and odour signals is rapid, suggesting that olfactory and gustatory flavour signals integrate automatically, relatively early in flavour processing, especially before the ontogenesis of attentional or decisional processes (Veldhuizen, Shepard, Wang, & Marks, 2010). Nevertheless, several studies reported an impact of attentional processes on odour-taste integration (Clark & Lawless, 1994;Frank, van der Klaauw, & Schifferstein, 1993;Marks et al, 2007).…”

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