Introduction:
The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of stimulus-duration changes on
electrogustometric (EGM) thresholds.
Methods:
In 212 non-smokers (age range 10 – 80 years), divided in 8 age groups, EGM-thresholds
at the area innervated by the chorda tympani, at the soft palate and at the area of
the vallate papillae were recorded bilaterally. We evaluated the effects of stimulus
duration (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 s) on EGM detection thresholds.
Results:
EGM thresholds recorded in response to stimuli of 1 and 1.5 s duration are not significantly
different from each other but lower than those recorded after application of 0.5-stimuli.
EGM-thresholds recorded in response to 2 s stimuli are the lowest of all thresholds
tested.
Conclusions:
The latter findings are consistent at all 6 recording areas, and at all age groups.
We have also controlled taste acquity with the use of taste strips, in a great number
of the above subjects (n = 132) in order to examine any possible influence of age
and sex.
