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Visualization of the relationship between electrogustometry and whole mouth test using multidimensional scaling
Jong-Gyun Ha1, Bo-Ra Kim2, Ara Cho3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Gwangmyeong Hospital, Gwangmyeong-Si, Korea.
Scientific Reports
|May 31, 2023
Summary
Understanding taste function tests is complex. Electrogustometry (EGM) thresholds, particularly in the chorda tympani (CT) area, correlate more closely with whole mouth taste recognition than detection, aiding interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Science
- Otorhinolaryngology
Background:
- Interpreting taste function tests using different stimuli, like chemical and electrical, remains challenging.
- A clear understanding of the relationship between Electrogustometry (EGM) and whole mouth taste tests is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visually and quantitatively analyze the relationship between results from taste function tests using different stimuli.
- To clarify how Electrogustometry (EGM) results relate to whole mouth taste detection and recognition thresholds.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 86 adult patients with normal self-reported taste function who underwent whole mouth testing and EGM.
- Statistical correlation analyses (Pearson's, Spearman's, polyserial) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) were employed.
- EGM measured thresholds for chorda tympani (CT) and glossopharyngeal nerve (GL) areas; whole mouth tests assessed sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami detection and recognition.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between average EGM CT thresholds and whole mouth recognition thresholds for sweet, salty, bitter, and sour tastes (r=0.244-0.398, P<0.05).
- EGM CT thresholds also correlated significantly with sweet taste detection thresholds (r=0.360, P=0.007).
- MDS analysis revealed distinct groupings for EGM and whole mouth test thresholds, with EGM CT thresholds closer to recognition than detection thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Multidimensional scaling (MDS) provides a valuable visualization tool for understanding the complex relationships between different taste tests.
- Electrogustometry (EGM) and whole mouth taste tests appear to measure different aspects of gustatory function.
- EGM thresholds, especially for the chorda tympani (CT) area, are more closely aligned with taste recognition than taste detection, offering guidance for interpreting EGM results.
