EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL-TEMPERATURE ON PLEASURE RATINGS OF ODORS AND TASTES

The pleasure ratings for alimentary and nonalimentary odors and tastes were tested in 10 subjects, at ambient temperatures 0°, 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°C. The taste stimuli were kept at 20°C and the odor stimuli at 36°C. The group median rating for all subjects and all nonalimentary substances did not change at any ambient temperatures. The increase in ambient temperature produced a moderate decrease in the median rating for alimentary stimuli. In another group of 8 subjects, alliesthesia was tested in a cold environment. Cold exposure almost completely suppressed negative alliesthesia to sweet stimuli. The return to 20°C restored alliesthesia. This phenomenon seems to be independent of the temperature of the solutions tasted. Nonalimentary odors were not affected by cooling. © 1979.