The evaluation of brain activity in response to taste stimuli--a pilot study and method for central taste activation as assessed by event-related fMRI.
BACKGROUND
Brain pathways contribute to the regulation of appetite behaviors, and advancements in brain imaging offer new opportunities in determining whether disturbances of these pathways play a role in pathological feeding behaviors in humans. We developed a standardized method for the assessment of brain activation in response to taste stimuli.


METHODS
Five healthy control women were positioned in a 1.5 T GE magnet resonance (MR) scanner for functional MR imaging (fMRI). They received 1.0 cm3 samples of 1 M glucose solution or artificial saliva (25 mM KCl, 2 mM NaHCO3). Fluid challenges were delivered by a programmable syringe pump (J-Kem Scientific, St. Louis, MO). E-Prime software (Psychology Software Tools Inc., Pittsburgh, PA) coordinated taste stimulation with MR scanning. Data were analyzed using NeuroImaging software (NIS).


RESULTS
Healthy women showed increased orbitofrontal cortex activation when glucose was compared to artificial saliva. In addition, mesial and lateral temporal cortical regions contrasted glucose from artificial saliva.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a design for the systematic study of brain activation after taste stimulation using fMRI and computer controlled stimulus delivery. The results are consistent with previous studies, showing activation in higher order brain centers that are involved in emotional coding of taste experience.
Frank
Guido K
GK
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Room 132, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. frankgk@msx.upmc.edu
Kaye
Walter H
WH
Carter
Cameron S
CS
Brooks
Sarah
S
May
Christopher
C
Fissell
Kate
K
Stenger
V Andrew
VA
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012984:Software; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D005947:Glucose