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Study of the Neurophysiological Response to Foodstuffs

Effect of Food Sensorial Perception on Brain Activity, Cardiovascular Activity, Facial Mimicry and Electrodermal Activity

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06051175
Enrollment
30
Registered
2023-09-22
Start date
2023-03-01
Completion date
2023-07-21
Last updated
2023-09-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy Nutrition

Keywords

sensory perception, physiological response, neurophysiological response, basic flavour

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effect of perception of sensory attributes of different foodstuffs on physiological and neurophysiological response in health adults. The main aims are: * To evaluate the effect of sensory perception of foodstuffs on brain activity using EEG technique; * To evaluate the effect of food sensory perception on cardiovascular activity using EGG; * To evaluate the effect of food sensory perception on facial mimicry via video analysis and eye tracking; * To evaluate the effect of food sensory perception on electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response. Participants will perform a sensory attribute perception analysis of 5 different solutions representing basic flavours. During the analysis of sensory attributes, participants will pass the solutions through the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analyzing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouth with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will be subjected to an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity through the following non-invasive methods: electroencephalography technique; electrocardiography technique; monitoring cardiac electrical activity; facial mimicry activity via video analysis and eye tracking; and electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response.

Detailed description

Participation in the Study of the neurophysiological response to foodstuffs in university students with the aim of investigating the effect of the perception of the sensory attributes of different foodstuffs on the physiological and neurophysiological response of healthy university students, which consists of the following participation: Completion of a survey with the aim of finding out the participant's family history in terms of pathologies and/or allergies/intolerances, gender, age, medication, smoking habits and lifestyles, anthropometric data. Participants will carry out an analysis of the perception of sensory attributes of 5 different solutions representing basic flavours. During the analysis of sensory attributes, the participants will have to pass the solutions over the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analysing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouths out with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will undergo an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity using the following non-invasive methods: Electroencephalography technique, which consists of monitoring brain electrical activity using a cap with electrodes on the head. The electrocardiography technique, which consists of monitoring cardiac electrical activity by placing 3 electrodes on the forearm. Facial mimicry via video analysis and eye tracking, which consists of monitoring facial mimicry by recording test videos for each participant. The participant will be recorded throughout the experiment. Electrodermal activity using the galvanic response of the skin, where the participant will place their index finger and middle finger on a sensor for analysis. The evaluation of brain activity, which includes all the techniques described above, lasts a maximum of one hour.

Interventions

Participants will perform a bitter taste perception analysis. During the analysis of sensory attributes, participants will pass the solutions through the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analyzing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouth with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will be subjected to an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity through the following non-invasive methods: electroencephalography technique; electrocardiography technique; monitoring cardiac electrical activity; facial mimicry activity via video analysis and eye tracking; and electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response.

Participants will perform a salty taste perception analysis. During the analysis of sensory attributes, participants will pass the solutions through the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analyzing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouth with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will be subjected to an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity through the following non-invasive methods: electroencephalography technique; electrocardiography technique; monitoring cardiac electrical activity; facial mimicry activity via video analysis and eye tracking; and electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response.

Participants will perform a sweet taste perception analysis. During the analysis of sensory attributes, participants will pass the solutions through the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analyzing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouth with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will be subjected to an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity through the following non-invasive methods: electroencephalography technique; electrocardiography technique; monitoring cardiac electrical activity; facial mimicry activity via video analysis and eye tracking; and electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response.

OTHERAcid taste perception

Participants will perform a acid taste perception analysis. During the analysis of sensory attributes, participants will pass the solutions through the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analyzing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouth with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will be subjected to an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity through the following non-invasive methods: electroencephalography technique; electrocardiography technique; monitoring cardiac electrical activity; facial mimicry activity via video analysis and eye tracking; and electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response.

OTHERUmami taste perception

Participants will perform a umami taste perception analysis. During the analysis of sensory attributes, participants will pass the solutions through the various regions of the tongue, and at the end, throw the contents away, not ingesting the solution. Between analyzing the various solutions, participants will rinse their mouth with water. Simultaneously with the analysis of sensory attributes, each participant will be subjected to an assessment of brain activity and physiological activity through the following non-invasive methods: electroencephalography technique; electrocardiography technique; monitoring cardiac electrical activity; facial mimicry activity via video analysis and eye tracking; and electrodermal activity using galvanic skin response.

Sponsors

Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* healthy adults * agree to take part in the study * aged between 18 and 25

Exclusion criteria

* Participants with cardiovascular, neurological or psychiatric conditions * Participants with food allergies or intolerances * Participants with disability that does not allow them to fully utilise their sense of taste (ageusia) and smell (anosmia).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The mean value of electroencephalography signal components at different flavoursDuring the interventionThe mean value of electroencephalography (EEG) signal components delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), low-beta (12-20 Hz), high-beta (20-30 Hz) and gamma (30-45 Hz) (in decibel) will be measure by the EEG raw signals recorded by a 64-channel EEG device for each flavour
Mean score of valence, arousal, dominance in the Self Assessment Manikin System for each flavourImmediately after the interventionThe characterization of the flavour is performed using a 9-point scale for quantifying valence (pleasant/unpleasant), arousal (exciting/calming) and dominance (overwhelming/subtle)
The mean value of heart rate and heart rate variability computed from the electrocardiography raw signal at different flavoursDuring the interventionThe mean value of heart rate (in beats per minute), the heart rate variability (in milliseconds) and will be measure bt the electrocardiography (ECG) raw signal recorded by an ECG device for each flavour
The left and right pupil dilatation at different flavoursDuring the interventionThe left and right pupil dilatation will be extracted from the eye tracker device
The electrodermal activity values at different flavoursDuring the interventionThe electrodermal activity, namely the skin conductance response and skin conductance level (in microSiemens) will be directly measure by Galvanic skin response device
Facial expressions induced by different flavoursDuring the interventionThe facial expressions (in action units) will be visually measured on the videos that were acquired using a camera

Countries

Portugal

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026