J Oral Med Pain.  2023 Dec;48(4):144-151. 10.14476/jomp.2023.48.4.144.

Repeatability of the Measurement of Electrical Taste Detection Thresholds in Healthy Young Females

• Noh H
• Im YG
• Kim BG

• KMID: 2552108
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14476/jomp.2023.48.4.144

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability of the electrical measurement of taste detection on different dates and in different sessions in healthy young females.
Methods
The sites of electrical stimulation were the tip of the tongue, the posterolateral border of the tongue and the soft palate on the right side unilaterally. The measurements were repeated over three consecutive days, three sessions per day and three times for each session in seventeen healthy females. The repeatability of the measurement was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results
In the dB unit, the ICC of the tip of the tongue and the soft palate was good (61.03 and 66.03, respectively); however, the lateral border of the tongue was a little lower (58.07). In the μA unit, all three test sites had poor ICC. Variability was more significantly associated with the subject factor than with other factors such as trials, sessions and days in dB and μA units.
Conclusions
Electrogustometry, which measures electrical taste detection thresholds in the dB unit, is repeatable and acceptable for clinical use in assessing taste function in healthy young females.

Keyword

Electrical stimulation; Electrogustometry; Repeatability; Taste; Taste perception