The physical characteristics of open flow and closed flow taste delivery apparatus

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Abstract
Comparisons between the intended duration of stimulus presentation and the measured duration were made for two types of liquid delivery apparatus: an open flow apparatus, where liquid flows onto the anterior dorsal surface of the tongue, and a closed flow apparatus, where the tongue acts as the missing wall segment of a tube. Durations were measured from the conductivity of flowing liquids using recognition and detection threshold criteria. The closed flow delivery apparatus produced measured durations that exceeded the intended durations by as little as 2%, and no more than 112%, for either 2 mM NaSac or 500 mM NaCl at intended durations of 1000, 500, 200 and 100 ms, while the open flow delivery apparatus durations exceeded the intended durations by a minimum of 46% and as much as 1332%, for the same concentrations and durations. Power function equations fitted all data, with r2>0.920, thus allowing predictions of measured durations.