A network model toward a taste bud inspired sensor

Abstract

This study shows a computational model of a taste-sensing system inspired by physiological properties of mammalian taste organs. The experimental results indicated that the taste bud cells (TBCs) form cell networks within single taste buds. The computational model includes those cell networks between taste-sensing cells (leaky integrate-and-fire (LIAF) model) and output cells (bursting cell model). Each LIAF model was heterogeneous. Outputs of a plurality of the LIAF models were integrated in the bursting cells. The dc bias current caused irregular interbeat intervals in the LIAF models. Noisy input from the LIAF models induced synchronization in the bursting cells. The degree of synchronization between the bursting cells was considered output of the network. The degree of synchronization increased with an increase in the mean dc current in the LIAF models. Although we do not know how the taste stimuli charge the LIAF models, the present network model potentially detects the taste stimuli as the degree of synchronization of TBCs.