Neural response to flavor measured during a sip-and-swallow protocol with EEG
Poster presentation
Brain responses to food or flavor stimuli are usually measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging. One advantage of using electro-encephalo gram (EEG) is reduced cost and the ability to include participants with a higher BMI (compared to functional MRI). In addition, because the participant is seated, EEG allows for a more naturalistic eating context. Event‐ related EEG studies using sip‐and‐swallow protocols do not exist to our awareness, but this is a critical lack, as the swallow breath contains flavor. Here we present preliminary data from a sip‐and‐swallow protocol with event‐related EEG responses time‐locked to swallowing of a food stimulus (chocolate milk). The participant sipped the stimulus on 50 trials upon hearing an auditory cue. EOG electrodes that are normally used for detection of eye movements are connected on the submental muscle under the participants’ chin and utilized for detection of swallowing to obtain a precise time point for consumption event, as well as a regressor for excluding swallowing related noise from the EEG signal. We also tracked sip-size with a USB-readable scale. We have completed data collection on 7 participants (3 women, 4 men). The final sample size will be 15 participants. Ongoing data analyses are done with EEGLAB and ERPLAB software on MATLAB. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a sip-and-swallow EEG protocol is possible with limited loss of data due to movement. Funding: 2232 International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers Program of TÜBİTAK (Project No. 118C299) to MV. Giract European PhD in Flavor Research Awards 2020/2021 first year PhD research to SA.