Basic neuroscienceA gustatory stimulator

- Gustatory event related potentials are difficult to achieve due to complex organization of taste buds together with mechano-sensory receptors on the tongue.
- A spray taste delivery system able to overcome this problem has been made now available.
- We measured the temporal characteristics of the pulse onset, namely rise time and delay time, essential to evoke a scalp potential.
- Results indicate the device reliable to deliver taste pulses.

BackgroundIn order to elicit gustatory event related potentials (gERPs) a special taste delivery system is needed which allows precise control of stimulus onset and duration.New methodAim of this investigation was to describe the characteristics, namely onset rise-time step and onset delay time of a recently new taste delivery system based on stepper-motor, computer-driven glass syringes, able to spray pulses of liquid solutions into the mouth.ResultsThe measurement showed that the pulse rise time is less than 100 ms and increases with the pulse duration; the delay of the stimulus on a 12 m hose is between 55 ms and 71 ms.Comparison with existing methodsThe gustometer in examination produce a stream of pulses, constituted by a certain number of taste stimuli interleaved among a number of tasteless pulses, moreover the solution is thermos-regulated at internal body temperature. This make the technique appealing for event related procedure in neuroscience investigation related to gustatory tasks.ConclusionThese results of the time rise measurements confirm the suitability of this gustometer to elicit ERPs.