Individual gustatory reaction times to various groups of chemicals that provoke basic taste qualities.

Reaction times (RTs) to four groups of substances that provoke different taste qualities were measured. Measurements for all substances with the same taste, equalized in perceived intensity and provoking a very strong taste, were made concurrently for each subject. The comparisons were made on the individual level. No significant differences in RTs to substances with the same taste quality were found. When the factor of perceived intensity is kept constant, no effect of the stimulus chemical composition on RTs seems to be present. RTs to stimuli with different tastes differ significantly, the shortest being to salt and the longest to bitter. The difference in RTs for sour and sweet substances is small, and the subjects were not all alike in terms of the order of RTs with respect to these stimuli.