Dataset Information

Oral somatosensatory acuity is related to particle size perception in chocolate.

ABSTRACT: Texture affects liking or rejection of many foods for clinically relevant populations and the general public. Phenotypic differences in chemosensation are well documented and influence food choices, but oral touch perception is less understood. Here, we used chocolate as a model food to explore texture perception, specifically grittiness perception. In Experiment 1, the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) for particle size in melted chocolate was ~5??m in a particle size range commonly found in commercial chocolates; as expected, the JND increased with particle size, with a Weber Fraction of ~0.17. In Experiment 2, individual differences in touch perception were explored: detection and discrimination thresholds for oral point pressure were determined with Von Frey Hairs. Discrimination thresholds varied across individuals, allowing us to separate participants into high and low sensitivity groups. Across all participants, two solid commercial chocolates (with particle sizes of 19 and 26??m; i.e., just above the JND) were successfully discriminated in a forced-choice task. However, this was driven entirely by individuals with better oral acuity: 17 of 20 of more acute individuals correctly identified the grittier chocolate versus 12 of 24 less acute individuals. This suggests phenotypic differences in oral somatosensation can influence texture perception of foods.

SUBMITTER: Breen SP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6520395 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Oral somatosensatory acuity is related to particle size perception in chocolate.

Breen Scott P SP Etter Nicole M NM Ziegler Gregory R GR Hayes John E JE

Scientific reports 20190515 1

Texture affects liking or rejection of many foods for clinically relevant populations and the general public. Phenotypic differences in chemosensation are well documented and influence food choices, but oral touch perception is less understood. Here, we used chocolate as a model food to explore texture perception, specifically grittiness perception. In Experiment 1, the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) for particle size in melted chocolate was ~5 μm in a particle size range commonly found in com ...[more]

PMID: 31092875

Similar Datasets

Project description:Abstract:The visual system is highly variable across species, and such variability is a key factor influencing animal behavior. Variation in the visual system, for instance, can influence the outcome of learning tasks when visual stimuli are used. We illustrate this issue in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) artificially selected for large and small relative brain size with pronounced behavioral differences in learning experiments and mate choice tests. We performed a study of the visual system by quantifying eye size and optomotor response of large-brained and small-brained guppies. This represents the first experimental test of the link between brain size evolution and visual acuity. We found that female guppies have larger eyes than male guppies, both in absolute terms and in relation to their body size. Likewise, individuals selected for larger brains had slightly larger eyes but not better visual acuity than small-brained guppies. However, body size was positively associated with visual acuity. We discuss our findings in relation to previous macroevolutionary studies on the evolution of brain morphology, eye morphology, visual acuity, and ecological variables, while stressing the importance of accounting for sensory abilities in behavioral studies. Significance statement:Pre-existing perceptual biases can be keys for the development of specific behavioral patterns. Hence, potential differences in sensory systems need to be taken into account in the study of animal behavior. We highlight this necessity concentrating on the visual domain and using experimental data on brain size-selected guppies in which we assessed eye size and visual acuity. Behavioral differences between large-brained and small-brained guppies in learning and mate choice predominantly relied on tests using visual cues. Analyses of visual capabilities in this system are therefore necessary. Furthermore, this system offers the unprecedented opportunity to experimentally test the relationship between brain size, eye morphology, and visual capabilities. Our results show similar visual acuities between large-brained and small-brained guppies. However, the differences observed in eye area between the sexes, together with the observed positive relationship between body size and visual acuity, highlight the need to incorporate perceptive differences in the study of animal behavior.

Project description:BackgroundEndotracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy is a mainstay of advanced airway management performed both in the prehospital environment and in the Emergency Department. Many factors may affect the quality of view during direct laryngoscopy, one of them being the visual acuity (VA) of the intubator under these demanding conditions. While some individual variation in VA is to be expected in younger populations, VA naturally deteriorates in older populations particularly beyond the age of 40 years. This study aimed to describe VA in a younger (n=19) and an older (≥40 years of age, n=20) cohort of intubators at baseline and during simulated adult laryngoscopy, and to compare VA between these two age cohorts.MethodsA baseline near VA test was done using a Sloan Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (EDTRS) near vision chart at 40 cm under ambient indoor light. Participants in both age cohorts were then requested to perform laryngoscopy using an airway simulator at 40 cm viewing distance and again at a viewing distance of their choice. Both binocular and monocular VA were tested using a near VA chart placed anterior to the vocal cords of the airway trainer. VA was quantified using the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). Differences in VA between age cohorts were assessed using independent samples t-tests and differences within age cohorts were assessed using paired samples t-tests.ResultsBinocular and monocular near VA was significantly reduced in the older cohort compared to the younger cohort at baseline (both eyes -0.129 logMAR; p = 0.04, right eye -0.147 logMAR; p = 0.005, left eye -0.197 logMAR; p = 0.002). Within each age cohort VA was significantly reduced during laryngoscopy at a fixed viewing distance (younger; both eyes -0.111 logMAR; p < 0.001, right eye -0.095 logMAR; p < 0.001, left eye -0.105 logMAR; p < 0.001; older; both eyes -0,08 logMAR; p < 0.001, right eye -0.110 logMAR; p < 0.001, left eye -0.065 logMAR; p = 0.01) but this was improved by reducing viewing distance.ConclusionIncreased age was associated with a significant reduction in VA at baseline and during laryngoscopy, which can be partially compensated for by adjusting viewing distance. Although it is currently unknown to what extent this age-related reduction of VA might negatively affect time to place an endotracheal tube or success of placement under direct vision, older intubators should be aware of this effect and consider specialized corrective eyewear in order to maintain an adequate level of VA.

Project description:ImportanceConsumption of dark chocolate can improve blood flow, mood, and cognition in the short term, but little is known about the possible effects of dark chocolate on visual performance.ObjectiveTo compare the short-term effects of consumption of dark chocolate with those of milk chocolate on visual acuity and large- and small-letter contrast sensitivity.DesignA randomized, single-masked crossover design was used to assess short-term visual performance after consumption of a dark or a milk chocolate bar. Thirty participants without pathologic eye disease each consumed dark and milk chocolate in separate sessions, and within-participant paired comparisons were used to assess outcomes. Testing was conducted at the Rosenberg School of Optometry from June 25 to August 15, 2017.Main outcomes and measuresVisual acuity (in logMAR units) and large- and small-letter contrast sensitivity (in the log of the inverse of the minimum detectable contrast [logCS units]) were measured 1.75 hours after consumption of dark and milk chocolate bars.ResultsAmong the 30 participants (9 men and 21 women; mean [SD] age, 26 [5] years), small-letter contrast sensitivity was significantly higher after consumption of dark chocolate (mean [SE], 1.45 [0.04] logCS) vs milk chocolate (mean [SE], 1.30 [0.05] logCS; mean improvement, 0.15 logCS [95% CI, 0.08-0.22 logCS]; P < .001). Large-letter contrast sensitivity was slightly higher after consumption of dark chocolate (mean [SE], 2.05 [0.02] logCS) vs milk chocolate (mean [SE], 2.00 [0.02] logCS; mean improvement, 0.05 logCS [95% CI, 0.00-0.10 logCS]; P = .07). Visual acuity improved slightly after consumption of dark chocolate (mean [SE], -0.22 [0.01] logMAR; visual acuity, approximately 20/12) and milk chocolate (mean [SE], -0.18 [0.01] logMAR; visual acuity, approximately 20/15; mean improvement, 0.04 logMAR [95% CI, 0.02-0.06 logMAR]; P = .05). Composite scores combining results from all tests showed significant improvement after consumption of dark compared with milk chocolate (mean improvement, 0.20 log U [95% CI, 0.10-0.30 log U]; P < .001).Conclusions and relevanceContrast sensitivity and visual acuity were significantly higher 2 hours after consumption of a dark chocolate bar compared with a milk chocolate bar, but the duration of these effects and their influence in real-world performance await further testing.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03326934.

Dataset Information

Oral somatosensatory acuity is related to particle size perception in chocolate.

Publications

Oral somatosensatory acuity is related to particle size perception in chocolate.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets