Context Effect on Temporal Resolution of Olfactory–Gustatory, Visual–Gustatory, and Olfactory–Visual Synchrony Perception

Abstract

If odor and taste are presented in a context with high temporal proximity, they are more likely to be perceived as a flavor object. However, if odor and taste are presented in a context with low temporal proximity as well as a context with high temporal proximity, they may be less likely to be perceived as a flavor object. Based on these expectations, we hypothesized that sensitivity to temporal difference between two sensations (i.e., temporal resolution of synchrony perception) is higher when odor and taste are presented under a condition including a context with low temporal proximity than under a condition excluding it. To test this hypothesis, we required participants to determine whether olfactory and gustatory stimuli were presented simultaneously under a condition including a context with low temporal proximity (wide-range condition) and under a condition excluding it. In addition, we also tested visual–gustatory and olfactory–visual combinations. The temporal resolution was significantly higher under the wide-range condition than under the narrow-range condition, supporting our hypothesis. For odor and taste to be perceived as flavor, people not only must experience high temporal proximity of the two sensations but also must not experience low temporal proximity of the two sensations. The findings of this study suggest that the higher the sensitivity to a temporal difference between odor and taste, the lower the robustness of a flavor object (i.e., the strength of the odor–taste connection).