Effects of acoustic fMRI-noise on taste identification, liking, and intensity

Abstract

• First study to compare gustatory perception in a silent and fMRI-noise setting. • Participants underwent gustatory testing in a silent and fMRI-noise setting in randomised groups. • No significant effect of loud acoustic fMRI noise on taste perception (liking, intensity, or identification) was found. • fMRI noise does not seem to constitute a systematic confounder in gustatory research. • Further research should be conducted with regards to other potential confounders. In this paper, we investigated the possible effect of loud, acoustic noise produced by an fMRI-scanner on gustatory perception compared to a silent setting. The purpose was to assess whether the loud acoustic noise produced during fMRI acquisition could constitute a systematic confounder in most human gustatory research. To date, this issue has not yet been addressed. To evaluate this, fifty participants were tested in a randomised order in an fMRI-noise setting and a quiet setting, respectively. We found no significant effect of loud, acoustic fMRI noise on taste perception, including identification, certainty of identification, perceived intensity and hedonic rating. Thus, the profound acoustic commotion experienced by subjects undergoing an fMRI does not seem to constitute a systematic confounder in gustatory research.