Cited by 175Biochemical Analysis and Sensing TechniquesSensory Analysis and Statistical MethodsOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Taste mixture interactions: Suppression, additivity, and the predominance of sweetness

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Green, Barry G., Lim, Juyun, Osterhoff, Floor, Blacher, Karen, Nachtigal, Danielle·2010·Physiology & Behavior

Abstract

Most of what is known about taste interactions has come from studies of binary mixtures. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether asymmetries in suppression between stimuli in binary mixtures predict the perception of tastes in more complex mixtures (e.g., ternary and quaternary mixtures). Also of interest was the longstanding question of whether overall taste intensity derives from the sum of the tastes perceived within a mixture (perceptual additivity) or from the sum of the perceived intensities of the individual stimuli (stimulus additivity). Using the general labeled magnitude scale together with a sip-and-spit procedure, we asked subjects to rate overall taste intensity and the sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness of approximately equi-intense sucrose, NaCl, citric acid and QSO(4) stimuli presented alone and in all possible binary, ternary and quaternary mixtures. The results showed a consistent pattern of mixture suppression in which sucrose sweetness tended to be both the least suppressed quality and the strongest suppressor of other tastes. The overall intensity of mixtures was found to be predicted best by perceptual additivity. A second experiment that was designed to rule out potentially confounding effects of the order of taste ratings and the temperature of taste solutions replicated the main findings of the first experiment. Overall, the results imply that mixture suppression favors perception of sweet carbohydrates in foods at the expense of other potentially harmful ingredients, such as high levels of sodium (saltiness) and potential poisons or spoilage (bitterness and sourness).

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.08.013

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Authors
Green, B. G., Lim, J., Osterhoff, F., Blacher, K., & Nachtigal, D.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • Oregon State University (US)
  • John B. Pierce Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Green, Barry G.
Venue
Physiology & Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-12
Volume
101
Issue
5
Pages
731-737
ISSN
0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2006659948
Cited by
175
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
4.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01DC005002)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Sensory Analysis and Statistical Methods
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords
taste suppression, sweetness, sour taste, salty taste, bitterness, sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, ternary and quaternary mixtures, taste intensity, food safety
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Female, Humans, Male, Sodium Chloride, Sucrose, Taste, Taste Threshold, Citric Acid, Taste Perception

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