Abstract Recent studies have pointed out some cross-modal correspondences between flavoured beverages, as well as basic taste solutions, and specific geometric visual cues. Some of them associate known drink tastes to shapes of receptacles. In particular, sweetness is associated with curved receptacles and bitterness with sharp-angled ones. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis according to which near-threshold solutions might also activate this cross-modal correspondence. We used two different cup forms, one curved and the other sharp-angled, with pure sweet and bitter solutions just above sensorial thresholds. We designed two tasks using a two-alternative forced-choice test. Participants had to decide which drink was sweeter, Task 1, and bitterer, Task 2, from the curved and sharp-angled cups. Results showed the cross-modal correspondence but only when participants drank first from the curved cup and second from the sharp-angled cup. The effect disappeared when participants drank first from the sharp-angled cup and second from the curved cup. This suggests that the correspondence emerges using sweet and bitter near-threshold solutions in specific conditions. On the other hand, results also showed that confidence level of responses was significantly higher in the bitter task than in the sweet task. We discuss these complex results in the light of different theoretical proposals to explain this cross-modal correspondence.

中文翻译：

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甜味和苦味接近阈值的解决方案激活了杯子的味道和形状之间的跨模式对应

摘要 最近的研究指出了调味饮料、基本口味解决方案和特定几何视觉线索之间的一些跨模式对应关系。他们中的一些人将已知的饮料口味与容器的形状联系起来。特别是，甜味与弯曲的容器有关，而苦味与尖角的容器有关。我们的研究旨在测试假设，根据哪些近阈值解决方案也可能激活这种跨模式对应。我们使用了两种不同的杯子形式，一种是弯曲的，另一种是尖角的，纯甜和苦的解决方案刚好高于感官阈值。我们使用两种可选的强制选择测试设计了两个任务。参与者必须从弯曲和尖角的杯子中决定哪种饮料更甜（任务 1）和苦味（任务 2）。结果显示了跨模式对应，但仅当参与者首先从弯曲杯中饮用，然后从尖角杯中饮用时。当参与者首先从尖角杯子喝第二次从弯曲杯子喝时，效果消失了。这表明在特定条件下使用甜味和苦味的近阈值解决方案会出现对应关系。另一方面，结果还表明，苦味任务的反应置信度显着高于甜蜜任务。我们根据不同的理论建议讨论这些复杂的结果，以解释这种跨模式对应。这表明在特定条件下使用甜味和苦味的近阈值解决方案会出现对应关系。另一方面，结果还表明，苦味任务的反应置信度显着高于甜蜜任务。我们根据不同的理论建议来讨论这些复杂的结果，以解释这种跨模式对应。这表明在特定条件下使用甜味和苦味的近阈值解决方案会出现对应关系。另一方面，结果还表明，苦味任务的反应置信度显着高于甜蜜任务。我们根据不同的理论建议来讨论这些复杂的结果，以解释这种跨模式对应。