Abstract
In a recent study Ellegard, Goldsmith, Hay, and Morton concluded that is neither mediated by sour taste receptors, nor reflects sour taste quality. While aspects of electric taste await a full explanation, such far- reaching claims have significant implications for the future of in clinical practice. The current paper presents a critique of the grounds upon which the arguments were based, and suggests that these conclusions may be pre- mature. Ellegard, Goldsmith, Hay and Morton (1) addressed the contention that taste perception with anodal electrogustomet- ric stimulation is mediated via sour taste receptors. Their stated aim was evaluate to what extent relates an ability detect sour taste - rather than sweet, salt, or bitter. They reasoned that if anodal stimulation acti- vates sour taste receptors, then the positive predictive values of should be better for sour taste percep- tion than for other taste qualities. They correlated electrogus- tometric thresholds with visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings whole mouth and regional applications of taste solutions provided by patients with various disorders that have the potential affect taste. Because the pattern of predictive values did not favour sour taste they rejected the view that electrogustometry is mediated by sour taste receptors or even that it reflects the sour taste quality (1). Instead they concluded that measures a function of taste perception different from that induced by chemical stimuli. Research has yet provide definitive answers some of the questions that are raised concerning electric taste. In the meantime the validity of the arguments upon which conclu- sions are based must be established, because conclusions such as those reached by Ellegard et al. have significant im- plications for the future of in clinical prac- tice. Here I challenge the expectation that electrogustometric thresholds should be better predictors of VAS scores from sour-tasting stimuli than from other solutions.
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