Inhibitory Processes in Gustation

Different salt and acid solutions were applied in pairs with a short intervening water rinse to the tongue of the cat while the summated chorda tympani nerve response was recorded. It was observed that the first exposure usually depressed the response to the following one. The magnitude of the depression varied and depended on the solutions used. In general K₂SO₄ and Li₂SO₄ caused the strongest depression, while MgCl₂ and NaCl were most depressed. However, no substance was entirely inert in affecting the response to the second stimulus or was always unaffected by being the second. The results were discussed and subjected to comparison with earlier results. They were interpreted as being influenced by at least three different mechanisms.