title: Differences in swallowing between high and low concentration taste stimuli.
abstract: Taste is a property that is thought to potentially modulate swallowing behavior. Whether such effects depend on taste, intensity remains unclear. This study explored differences in the amplitudes of tongue-palate pressures in swallowing as a function of taste stimulus concentration. Tongue-palate pressures were collected in 80 healthy women, in two age groups (under 40, over 60), stratified by genetic taste status (nontasters, supertasters). Liquids with different taste qualities (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) were presented in high and low concentrations. General labeled magnitude scale ratings captured perceived taste intensity and liking/disliking of the test liquids. Path analysis explored whether factors of taste, concentration, age group, and/or genetic taste status impacted: (1) perceived intensity; (2) palatability; and (3) swallowing pressures. Higher ratings of perceived intensity were found in supertasters and with higher concentrations, which were more liked/disliked than lower concentrations. Sweet stimuli were more palatable than sour, salty, or bitter stimuli. Higher concentrations elicited stronger tongue-palate pressures independently and in association with intensity ratings. The perceived intensity of a taste stimulus varies as a function of stimulus concentration, taste quality, participant age, and genetic taste status and influences swallowing pressure amplitudes. High-concentration salty and sour stimuli elicit the greatest tongue-palate pressures.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, No. 12-101, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2A2 ; University of Fayoum, Fayoum 63514, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, No. 12-101, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2A2 ; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 1G7 ; Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M4G 1R8.
authors.forename: Catriona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA ; Charlestown Retirement Community, Catonsville, MD 21228, USA.
authors.forename: Cathy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pelletier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000502:physiology*