Effect of Barium Taste on Swallowing Behavior

What is it about?

Sour taste has been shown to influence swallowing safety in dysphagia. This study examined the effect of barium vs non barium stimuli on swallowing behavior, taste intensity and chemesthesis in healthy adult women

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Why is it important?

If taste perception and/or chemesthesis influences swallowing safety in healthy adult women, these factors may be important when examining their role in swallowing safety in individuals with oropharyngeal dysphagia. The neural mechanisms for taste, chemesthesis and swallowing follow similar pathways and thus, may influence one another.