title: The Influence of Assay Design, Blinding, andGymnema sylvestreon Sucrose Detection by Humans.
abstract: The detection and grading of tastes corresponding to different taste modalities can be tested in engaging laboratory sessions using students themselves as test subjects. This article describes a series of experiments in which data pertaining to the detection of salty and sweet tastes are obtained, and the ability of the herbGymnema sylvestreto disrupt the detection of sucrose is quantified. The effects of blinding and different assay designs on EC50 estimation are also investigated. The data obtained allow for substantial data analysis, including non-linear regression using fixed and free parameters to quantify dose-response relationships, and the use of often under-utilized permutation tests to determine significant differences when the underlying data display heteroscedasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Max G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Aleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Nam H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Jae M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Patino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Yuchi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Celeste S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shelley
keywords: Gymnema sylvestre; dose-response; permutation test; sensory transduction; taste