Studies on taste cognition processing by means of the gustatory evoked potential

利用牙电刺激诱发的体感诱发电位（SEP）和听觉刺激左右区别反应任务评估的事件相关电位（ERP），定量、客观地分析了精神药物丙咪嗪和卡马西平的镇痛作用。在SEP中，N_2-P_2振幅（疼痛相关晚期阳性成分）明显降低，n_2峰潜伏期延长。在ERP中，P_3成分（p300）的幅度明显降低，潜伏期延长。提示精神药物对高中枢神经系统具有抑制作用，继发具有镇痛作用。接下来，我们记录了电刺激舌头引起的味觉诱发电位（GEP），通过比较主观感觉与GEP和SEP波形，客观定量地评估味觉。此外，在诱导味觉的GEP中，N100是SEP的N_1和P_1之间的一个特征负分量，反映了味觉信息的接受和传递过程，被认为是与味觉品质选择过程有关的一个分量。

We analyzed analgesic effects of psychotropic drugs, imipramine and carbamazepin, quantitatively and objectively using somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) elicited by electric dental stimulation and event related potential (ERP) assessed by the right-left discriminatory response task by means of auditory stimulation. In SEP, N_2-P_2 amplitude (pain related late positive component) decreased significantly and N_2-peak latency was prolonged. In ERP, a significant decrease in amplitude of P_3 component (P 300) and prolongation of latency were observed. These suggested that psychotropic drugs would inhibit high CNS exhibiting analgesic effect secondarily.Next, we recorded gustatory evoked potential (GEP) elicited by electric stimulation of the tongue to assess gustation objectively and quantitatively by comparing subjective sensation with GEP and SEP wave shapes. An increase in electric intensity resulted in a significant increase in N_2-P_2 amplitude of SEP. Furthermore, in GEP when gustation was induced, N 100 which is a characteristic negative component appeared between N_1 and P_1 of SEP. N100 reflected the acceptance and transmission processes for information on taste and was suggested as a component related to the process of selecting taste quality.