title: Influence of the perceived taste intensity of chemesthetic stimuli on swallowing parameters given age and genetic taste differences in healthy adult women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether the perceived taste intensity of liquids with chemesthetic properties influenced lingua-palatal pressures and submental surface electromyography (sEMG) in swallowing, compared with water.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swallowing was studied in 80 healthy women, stratified by age group and genetic taste status. General Labeled Magnitude Scale ratings of taste intensity were collected for deionized water; carbonated water; 2.7% w/v citric acid; and diluted ethanol. These stimuli were swallowed, with measurement of tongue-palate pressures and submental sEMG. Path analysis differentiated stimulus, genetic taste status, age, and perceived taste intensity effects on swallowing. Signal amplitude during effortful saliva swallowing served as a covariate representing participant strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences (p < .05) in taste intensity were seen across liquids: citric acid > ethanol > carbonated water > water. Supertasters perceived greater taste intensity than did nontasters. Lingua-palatal pressure and sEMG amplitudes were correlated with the strength covariate. Anterior palate pressures and sEMG amplitudes were significantly higher for the citric acid stimulus. Perceived taste intensity was a significant mediator of stimulus differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide confirmatory evidence that high-intensity sour stimuli do influence swallowing behaviors. In addition, taste genetics influence the perception of taste intensity for stimuli with chemesthetic properties, which modulates behavioral responses.
authors.forename: Cathy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Catriona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D061545:Carbonated Water; D019343:Citric Acid; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000235:genetics*; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D061545:Carbonated Water; D014867:Water; D019343:Citric Acid; D000431:Ethanol