Hellekant, G. Electrophysiological investigation of the gustatory effect of ethyl alcohol. II: A single fibre analysis in the cat. Acta physiol. scand. 1965. 64. 398–406.–The response of single gustatory fibres of the chorda tympani in the cat to alcohol has been recorded and compared to the responses to NaCI, sucrose, acetic acid and quinine. Alcohol ewoked a response in all gustatory fibres tested. In regard to their response pattern two principal groups of fibres have been observed. In the first group alcohol produces an initial decrease of the spontaneous activity followed by a delayed and moderate increase. When the tongue is rinsed with water after the alcohol there is a strong burst of impulses. In the second group alcohol produces an immediate response characterized by a moderate increase in impulse frequency. A subsequent application of water does not give rise to any burst of impulses in this group but brings the impulse frequency back to the resting level. An analysis of the response pattern of single gustatory fibres revealed also that the first group of fibres are predominantly sensitive to water, acid and quinine, but is usually not stimulated by NaCl. The second group is generally activated by salt.
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Göran Hellekant (1965) studied this question.
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