[Where lies the boundary between common sensation and taste perception in electrogustometry (author's transl)]

The shift of the electrogustatory threshold following section of the corda tympani has been investigated in 14 patients. Postoperatively the anterior half of the tongue showed complete ageusia. Two thirds of the patients were able to recognize stimulations of 50-127 muA as a burning, and not a sour metallic, sensation for at least 1-2 weeks. Probably the trigeminal nerve endings perceive this burning sensation during the period of taste bud degeneration. A similar situation exists in cases where the gustatory fibres are interrupted proximal to the gustatory ganglion, because the tasts buds do not degenerate. It is therefore important to ask the patient to describe the sensation experienced. Only a sour metallic taste during electrogustometry should be regarded as a true gustatory sensation.