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Constraints imposed on taste physiology by human taste reaction time data
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Human taste reaction time (RT) is less than 1 second, with central nervous system (CNS) processing accounting for the majority of this time. Taste receptor events are brief but crucial for taste judgments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Science
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Reaction time (RT) is the interval between stimulus arrival and organism response.
- Taste responses occur rapidly, typically under 1 second for suprathreshold stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the temporal constraints of human taste reaction time.
- To determine the contribution of central nervous system (CNS) events to taste RT.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of temporal parameters for taste receptor events, neural conduction, and CNS processing.
- Constraint analysis based on stimulus durations and response latencies.
Main Results:
- Taste stimulus durations of 50 msec are sufficient for taste responses and quality identification.
- Taste receptor events are approximately 50 msec, with neural and motor events being briefer.
- Central nervous system (CNS) events constitute 60% to 90% of human taste RT.
Conclusions:
- Taste receptor events are essential but brief.
- Central nervous system (CNS) processing is a critical and time-limiting factor in human taste perception and judgment.