title: A gustatory stimulator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to elicit gustatory event related potentials (gERPs) a special taste delivery system is needed which allows precise control of stimulus onset and duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aim of this investigation was to describe the characteristics, namely onset rise-time step and onset delay time of a recently new taste delivery system based on stepper-motor, computer-driven glass syringes, able to spray pulses of liquid solutions into the mouth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurement showed that the pulse rise time is less than 100 ms and increases with the pulse duration; the delay of the stimulus on a 12 m hose is between 55 ms and 71 ms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The gustometer in examination produce a stream of pulses, constituted by a certain number of taste stimuli interleaved among a number of tasteless pulses, moreover the solution is thermos-regulated at internal body temperature. This make the technique appealing for event related procedure in neuroscience investigation related to gustatory tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results of the time rise measurements confirm the suitability of this gustometer to elicit ERPs.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center "Smell & Taste", Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: emilia.iannilli@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iannilli
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center "Smell & Taste", Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beger
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center "Smell & Taste", Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Raffaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fürer
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center "Smell & Taste", Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: ERPs; Pulse rise-time; Pulse taste delivery