Smith, S, Trotter, PD, McGlone, FP and Walker, SC (2020) Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Human Taste Perception. Chemical Senses, 46. ISSN 0379-864X

Preview

Text ATD Manuscript Final.pdf - Accepted Version Download (402kB) | Preview

Abstract

Taste perception has been reported to vary with changes in affective state. Distortions of taste perception, including blunted recognition thresholds, intensity, and hedonic ratings have been identified in those suffering from depressive disorders. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter implicated in the etiology of anxiety and depression; systemic and peripheral manipulations of serotonin signaling have previously been shown to modulate taste detection. However, the specific effects of central serotonin function on taste processing have not been widely investigated. Here, in a double-blind placebo-controlled study, acute tryptophan depletion was used to investigate the effect of reduced central serotonin function on taste perception. Twenty-five female participants aged 18–28 attended the laboratory on two occasions at least 1 week apart. On one visit, they received a tryptophan depleting drink and on the other, a control drink was administered. Approximately, 6 h after drink consumption, they completed a taste perception task which measured detection thresholds and supra-threshold perceptions of the intensity and pleasantness of four basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, and salt). While acutely reducing central levels of serotonin had no effect on the detection thresholds of sweet, bitter, or sour tastes, it significantly enhanced detection of salt. For supra-threshold stimuli, acutely reduced serotonin levels significantly enhanced the perceived intensity of both bitter and sour tastes and blunted pleasantness ratings of bitter quinine. These findings show manipulation of central serotonin levels can modulate taste perception and are consistent with previous reports that depletion of central serotonin levels enhances neural and behavioral responsiveness to aversive signals.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Chemical Senses following peer review. The version of record Sharon A Smith, Paula D Trotter, Francis P McGlone, Susannah C Walker, Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Human Taste Perception, Chemical Senses, Volume 46, 2021, bjaa078 is available online at https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjaa078
Uncontrolled Keywords:	06 Biological Sciences
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2021 10:29
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2021 00:50
DOI or ID number:	10.1093/chemse/bjaa078
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15622

View Item