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Effect of Magnitude Estimation of Pleasantness and Intensity on fMRI Activation to Taste

  • Published:
Chemosensory Perception

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether the psychophysical evaluation of taste stimuli using magnitude estimation influences the pattern of cortical activation observed with neuroimaging. That is, whether different brain areas are involved in the magnitude estimation of pleasantness relative to the magnitude estimation of intensity. fMRI was utilized to examine the patterns of cortical activation involved in magnitude estimation of pleasantness and intensity during hunger in response to taste stimuli. During scanning, subjects were administered taste stimuli orally and were asked to evaluate the perceived pleasantness or intensity using the general Labeled Magnitude Scale (Green et al., Chem Senses, 21(3), 323-334, 1996; Bartoshuk et al., Physiol Behav, 82(1), 109-114, 2004). Image analysis was conducted using Analysis of Functional NeuroImage software. Magnitude estimation of intensity and pleasantness shared common activations in the insula, rolandic operculum, and the medio-dorsal nucleus of the thalamus. Globally, magnitude estimation of pleasantness produced significantly more activation than magnitude estimation of intensity. Areas differentially activated during magnitude estimation of pleasantness versus intensity included, e.g., the insula, the anterior cingulate gyrus, and putamen, suggesting that different brain areas were recruited when subjects made magnitude estimates of intensity and pleasantness. These findings demonstrate significant differences in brain activation during magnitude estimation of intensity and pleasantness to taste stimuli. An appreciation for the complexity of brain response to taste stimuli may facilitate a clearer understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying eating behavior and overconsumption.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by NIH grants R01AG04085, R01DC02064 and R03DC051234. We thank Dr. Richard Buxton for fMRI expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    B. Cerf-Ducastel & C. Murphy

  2. Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California San Diego, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite101, San Diego, CA, 92120-4913, USA

    L. Haase & C. Murphy

  3. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA

    C. Murphy

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  1. B. Cerf-Ducastel
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  2. L. Haase
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  3. C. Murphy
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Correspondence to C. Murphy.

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Cerf-Ducastel, B., Haase, L. & Murphy, C. Effect of Magnitude Estimation of Pleasantness and Intensity on fMRI Activation to Taste. Chem. Percept. 5, 100–109 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12078-011-9109-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12078-011-9109-1

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