Psychophysical Isolation of the Modality Responsible for Detecting Multimodal Stimuli: A Chemosensory Example

Multiple sense modalities can be stimulated conjointly by a physically complex item, such as a predator, and also by a physically solitary stimulus that acts on multiple receptor classes. As a prime example of this latter group, l-menthol from mint stimulates taste, smell, and several somatosensory...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance 2005-02, Vol.31 (1), p.101-109
Main Authors: Nagata, Hisanori, Dalton, Pamela, Doolittle, Nadine, Breslin, Paul A. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology
Chromatography, Gas
Discrimination (Psychology)
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Intersensory Processes
Learning Modalities
Male
Measurement Techniques
Middle Aged
Mouth - physiology
Multimodal perception
Multisensory Learning
Nose - physiology
Olfaction. Taste
Perception
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychometrics
Psychophysical Measurement
Psychophysics - instrumentation
Psychophysiology
Sensation - physiology
Sensory perception
Smell - physiology
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
Stimuli
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Summary:Multiple sense modalities can be stimulated conjointly by a physically complex item, such as a predator, and also by a physically solitary stimulus that acts on multiple receptor classes. As a prime example of this latter group, l-menthol from mint stimulates taste, smell, and several somatosensory submodalities. In 6 experiments that used a variety of psychometric techniques, the authors experimentally isolated the modality by which l-menthol is detected in the upper airways (the nose and mouth). Interestingly, absolute detection in both the nasal and oral cavities was based on olfaction and not stinging, cooling, or taste. These experiments illustrate how the sensory modality responsible for detecting a multimodal or multisensory stimulus can be psychophysically isolated.
ISSN:0096-1523
1939-1277
DOI:10.1037/0096-1523.31.1.101