The pharyngeal taste organ of a blood-feeding insect functions in food recognition.

BACKGROUND: Obligate blood-feeding insects obtain the nutrients and water necessary to ensure survival from the vertebrate blood. The internal taste sensilla, situated in the pharynx, evaluate the suitability of the ingested food. Here, through multiple approaches, we characterized the pharyngeal organ (PO) of the hematophagous kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus to determine its role in food assessment. The PO, located antero-dorsally in the pharynx, comprises eight taste sensilla that become bathed with the incoming blood. RESULTS: We showed that these taste sensilla house gustatory receptor neurons projecting their axons through the labral nerves to reach the subesophageal zone in the brain. We found that these neurons are electrically activated by relevant appetitive and aversive gustatory stimuli such as NaCl, ATP, and caffeine. Using RNA-Seq, we examined the expression of sensory-related gene families in the PO. We identified gustatory receptors, ionotropic receptors, transient receptor potential channels, pickpocket channels, opsins, takeouts, neuropeptide precursors, neuropeptide receptors, and biogenic amine receptors. RNA interference assays demonstrated that the salt-related pickpocket channel Rproppk014276 is required during feeding of an appetitive solution of NaCl and ATP. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence of the role of the pharyngeal organ in food evaluation. This work shows a comprehensive characterization of a pharyngeal taste organ in a hematophagous insect.

Brief environmental enrichment elicits metaplasticity on the insular cortex in vivo and reduces the strength of conditioned taste aversion.

Environmental enrichment (EE) is known to improve memory and cognition and modulate the impact of aversive stimuli in animals, promoting the development of resilience to stressful situations. Likewise, it is known that EE can modulate synaptic plasticity as is the case of long-term potentiation (LTP). These findings have been described initially in ex vivo preparations, suggesting that the effects of EE are the result of an early modification of the synaptic excitability and transmission. In this regard, it is known that metaplasticity refers to the persistent modification, by previous activity, in the ability to induce synaptic plasticity. Our previous studies have shown that prior training in conditioned taste aversion (CTA) prevents the subsequent induction of LTP in the projection from the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (Bla) to the insular cortex (IC) in vivo. In addition, we have shown that CTA extinction allows the induction but not the maintenance of IC-LTP of the Bla-IC pathway. Recently, we also showed that prior exposure to environmental enrichment for three weeks reduces the strength of CTA, restoring the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the IC. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of brief exposure to an enriched environment on the strength of aversive memory, as well as on the in vivo IC-LTP. To do so, adult rats were exposed for seven days to an EE, either before CTA training or LTP induction in the Bla-IC pathway. Our results demonstrate that a seven-day exposure to an enriched environment attenuates the aversive response to a strong CTA and allows the induction but not the maintenance of LTP in the insular cortex. These findings provide evidence that metaplastic regulation in a neocortical region takes part in the mechanisms through which brief exposure to enriched environments attenuates an aversive response.

Palatability profile in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) have enhanced palatability for NaCl taste as measured by the increased number of hedonic versus aversive responses to intraoral infusion (1 mL/1 min) of 0.3 M NaCl, in a taste reactivity test in euhydrated condition or after 24 h of water deprivation + 2 h of partial rehydration (WD-PR). SHRs also ingested more sucrose than normotensive rats, without differences in quinine hydrochloride intake. Here, we investigated the palatability of SHRs (n = 8-10) and normotensive Holtzman rats (n = 8-10) to sucrose and quinine sulphate infused intraorally in the same conditions that NaCl palatability was increased in SHRs. SHRs had similar number of hedonic responses to 2% sucrose in euhydrated condition (95 ± 19) or after WD-PR (142 ± 25), responses increased when compared with normotensive rats in euhydrated condition (13 ± 3) or after WD-PR (21 ± 6). SHRs also showed increased number of aversive responses to 1.4 mM quinine sulphate compared with normotensive rats, whether in euhydrated condition (86 ± 6, vs. normotensive: 54 ± 7) or after WD-PR (89 ± 9, vs. normotensive: 40 ± 9). The results suggest that similar to NaCl taste, sweet taste responses are increased in SHRs and resistant to challenges in bodily fluid balance. They also showed a more intense aversive response in SHRs to bitter taste compared with normotensives. This suggests that the enhanced response of SHRs to taste rewards does not correspond to a decreased response to a typical aversive taste.

Sweetness of Chilean Infants' Diets: Methodology and Description.

Sugars and other sweeteners contribute to the sweet taste of foods; exposure to this taste could alter appetite regulation and preferences for sweet products. Despite this, there is no widely accepted methodology for estimating overall diet sweetness. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to estimate diet sweetness and describe diet sweetness in a cohort of Chilean infants. In order to estimate diet sweetness density, the sweetness intensity of foods was obtained from existing databases and from sensory evaluations in products with no available information and then linked to 24-h dietary recalls of infants at 12 and 36 months of age. Diet sweetness density was significantly and positively associated with total sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners intakes. The main food sources of sweetness at 12 months were fruits (27%) and beverages (19%). Sweetness density increased 40% between 12 and 36 months (from 1196 to 1673, p < 0.01), and sweetness density at both ages was significantly associated. At 36 months, beverages and dairy products were the main sources of sweetness (representing 32.2% and 28.6%, respectively). The methodology presented here to estimate the sweetness density of the diet could be useful for other studies to help elucidate different effects of exposure to high sweetness.

Single Origin Coffee Aroma: From Optimized Flavor Protocols and Coffee Customization to Instrumental Volatile Characterization and Chemometrics.

In this study, the aroma profile of 10 single origin Arabica coffees originating from eight different growing locations, from Central America to Indonesia, was analyzed using Headspace SPME-GC-MS as the analytical method. Their roasting was performed under temperature-time conditions, customized for each sample to reach specific sensory brew characteristics in an attempt to underline the customization of roast profiles and implementation of separate roastings followed by subsequent blending as a means to tailor cup quality. A total of 138 volatile compounds were identified in all coffee samples, mainly furan (~24-41%) and pyrazine (~25-39%) derivatives, many of which are recognized as coffee key odorants, while the main formation mechanism was the Maillard reaction. Volatile compounds' composition data were also chemometrically processed using the HCA Heatmap, PCA and HCA aiming to explore if they meet the expected aroma quality attributes and if they can be an indicator of coffee origin. The desired brew characteristics of the samples were satisfactorily captured from the volatile compounds formed, contributing to the aroma potential of each sample. Furthermore, the volatile compounds presented a strong variation with the applied roasting conditions, meaning lighter roasted samples were efficiently differentiated from darker roasted samples, while roasting degree exceeded the geographical origin of the coffee. The coffee samples were distinguished into two groups, with the first two PCs accounting for 73.66% of the total variation, attributed mainly to the presence of higher quantities of furans and pyrazines, as well as to other chemical classes (e.g., dihydrofuranone and phenol derivatives), while HCA confirmed the above results rendering roasting conditions as the underlying criterion for differentiation.

Influence of a prebiotic and natural sweeteners on the sensory profile of skyr yogurt with mango pulp.

Skyr yogurts have been gaining prominence because of their different sensory characteristics. Due to their healthy appeal, the use of natural sweeteners to replace sucrose in this type of yogurt can be an alternative for incorporating a sweet taste, in addition to increasing the functionality of the product through the incorporation of prebiotics. This study aimed to determine whether the addition of fructooligosaccharide (FOS), sucrose, stevia, and thaumatin affects the sensory profile of the skyr yogurt with mango pulp and its acceptance in two Brazilian regions. Eight formulations of skyr with mango pulp were developed. The compositional parameters evaluated were moisture, protein, lipids, ash, and carbohydrate. The tests performed were ideal sweetness and mango flavor, sweetness equivalence for each sweetener used, Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA), and consumer testing in the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil. In general, the addition of FOS did not impact the characteristics of the formulated skyr yogurt. The type of sweetener had an impact on the sensory profile and acceptance of the skyr yogurt, affected characteristics such as mango flavor, sweet taste, sweet aftertaste, bitter taste, bitter aftertaste, and metallic flavor. The results of the affective test demonstrated that, for consumers in the Southeast, mango flavor is a positive attribute in this yogurt, and for Northeastern consumers, in addition to mango flavor, sweetness must also be taken into consideration. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study may be useful for the dairy industry because in the literature, there is still a lack of sensory studies of skyr yogurt, especially when sucrose substitutes are used. The results of the consumer test in this work reinforce the importance of studies related to consumer preferences with cultural differences.

Brazilian cocoa hybrid-mix fermentation: Impact of microbial dominance as well as chemical and sensorial properties.

High-yield resistant hybrids are used in cocoa fermentation and result in chocolates with different sensorial profiles. This work aimed to characterize the fermentation microbiologically and physicochemically. Hybrids CEPEC 2004, FA13, PH15, and CEPEC 2002 were used for fermentation. The yeast, acetic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and mesophilic bacteria population were evaluated in their respective medium. Carbohydrates and acids were detected using a high-performance liquid chromatography system, and volatiles were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry equipment. Finally, a consumer acceptance test followed by a check-all-that-apply question and a temporal dominance of sensations assessment was performed in chocolate. The fermentation resulted in a typical succession: yeast-dominated at first, followed by lactic acid, acetic acid, and mesophilic bacteria. In the pulp, carbohydrates and citric acid were consumed. Low concentrations of acetic acid (0.09-1.75 g/kg) were detected. Acids, esters, and alcohols were the most abundant groups. The chocolate profile resulted in sweet, acidic, and fruity, satisfying consumers' tastes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION:  The cocoa hybrid-mix fermentation can improve the fermentation process and chocolate quality.  The mixture generated a different sensory profile in comparison to other fermentations.  The fruity chocolate was accepted and liked by consumers.

Determination of changes in physicochemical and sensory characteristics of purple passion fruit with the application of different packaging systems, including an ethylene scavenger additive.

To achieve a suitable packaging configuration, it is important first to determine the physicochemical characteristics related to the packaged product. In this study, the physicochemical characterization of fresh purple passion fruits of three different ripening stages was carried out to determine key variables for the packaging, such as O2 consumption and CO2 -ethylene production rates. Subsequently, intermediate-ripe fruits were packaged for 21 days at 6 °C under three packaging conditions: Xtend® perforated bags, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags, and LDPE bags with a novel ethylene scavenger active additive (ESAA). It was observed that an equilibrium modified atmosphere was formed in the packages. For the Xtend® bags, the highest values of O2 (yo2  = 0.184 to 0.192) and lowest of CO2 (yco2  = 0.033 to 0.041) were reached, whereas for the LDPE bags with ESAA these values were moderate. In the case of ethylene, the LDPE bags showed the highest levels in the headspace (26 to 31 ppm), whereas the lowest levels were obtained in the LDPE bags with additive (2 to 4 ppm). These levels resulted in a delay in the ripening of the fruits during storage, which was verified through a sensory acceptability test that was carried out on the juice extracted from the fruits. In this sensory test, panelists identified similar characteristics between the fruits packaged with ESAA and the Xtend® bags, regarding the control fruits. The LDPE bags with the ethylene scavenger performed satisfactorily and can considerably delay the ripening, which may result in longer shelf life and conservation of fresh purple passion fruits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This work presents a novel packaging proposal that reduces oxygen and ethylene levels in contact with purple passion fruits. Our proposed active packaging can be used to increase the fruit shelf life by improving its conservation conditions throughout the chain of storage, transport, and distribution in the market. With this, it will be possible to reduce the fruit's losses due to senescence and to reduce the substrate consumption by using a more effective packaging system.

Harsh and Sweet Sensations Predict Acute Liking of Electronic Cigarettes, but Flavor Does Not Affect Acute Nicotine Intake: A Pilot Laboratory Study in Men.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic cigarette use is increasing in popularity, and thousands of flavors are available. Adolescent vaping rates in the United States have nearly doubled in the past year. Unlike combustible tobacco, added flavors are not currently regulated for some types of electronic cigarette products. Here, we investigated the role of flavor in electronic cigarette liking and acute intake. METHODS: Men (n = 39) aged 18-45 vaped in a controlled laboratory setting after being randomized to one of four e-liquids: 6 mg nicotine/mL cherry, 18 mg/mL cherry, 6 mg/mL chocolate, or 18 mg/mL chocolate. They completed several questionnaires, and vaped ad libitum for 10 minutes. After the first puff, participants rated sensations (sweetness, bitterness, coolness, harshness/irritation) on general labeled magnitude scales (gLMS) and rated overall liking on a generalized hedonic scale. Once the 10-minute session ended, participants made another set of ratings. RESULTS: Liking was generally stable across the vaping session and liking varied substantially across the four conditions. Across all conditions, sensory ratings predicted liking: harshness/irritation was negatively associated with first puff liking, whereas perceived sweetness was positively associated with first puff liking. First puff liking associated with increased amount of e-liquid vaped, but not total nicotine intake. Participants appeared to titrate their nicotine intake regardless of assigned condition. CONCLUSION: Flavored e-liquids affect acute liking ratings, but not acute nicotine intake. IMPLICATIONS: These data suggest individuals who regularly vape may titrate their nicotine intake, regardless of flavor, and contrary to expectations, acute liking did not predict total nicotine intake. However, more-liked flavors may potentially make higher nicotine levels more tolerable by adding pleasant sensations directly, rather than by perceptual masking that reduces aversive sensations.

Muscarinic receptor signaling in the amygdala is required for conditioned taste aversion.

The sense of taste provides information regarding the nutrient content, safety or potential toxicity of an edible. This is accomplished via a combination of innate and learned taste preferences. In conditioned taste aversion (CTA), rats learn to avoid ingesting a taste that has previously been paired with gastric malaise. Recent evidence points to a role of cholinergic muscarinic signaling in the amygdala for the learning and storage of emotional memories. The present study tested the participation of muscarinic receptors in the amygdala during the formation of CTA by infusing the non-specific antagonist scopolamine into the basolateral or central subnuclei before or after conditioning, as well as before retrieval. Our data show that regardless of the site of infusion, pre-conditioning administration of scopolamine impaired CTA acquisition whereas post-conditioning infusion did not affect its storage. Also, infusions into the basolateral but not in the central amygdala before retrieval test partially reduced the expression of CTA. Our results indicate that muscarinic receptors activity is required for acquisition but not consolidation of CTA. In addition, our data add to recent evidence pointing to a role of cholinergic signaling in peri-hippocampal structures in the process of memory retrieval.

Orange-fleshed Sweet Potato Chips: Processing Effect on Carotenoid Content and Resistant Starch and Sensory Acceptance

HIGHLIGHTS Chips from orange-fleshed sweet potato have a good acceptability. Drying process showed retention of carotenoids total content. Chips from drying or frying process showed high resistant starch content.

Abstract There is currently a great demand for industrialized products with functional properties, together with the increase in consumption of roots and sweet potato products. Sweet potatoes have a high content of resistant starch, while only the orange-fleshed roots also have a high content of carotenoids. Due to these, this work aimed to produce orange-fleshed sweet potato chips, by two processes: drying oven and immersion frying. The chips were evaluated for the content of resistant starch and carotenoids in nature and chips sweet potatoes, and evaluations of the physical attributes and sensory analysis of the chips. The drying process retained a greater content of total carotenoids. Fried chips can be considered high resistant starch content, even with a decrease in the content after this processing; they also showed more intense coloring and pleasant texture. There was a statistical difference between the varieties only regarding the content of carotenoids and resistant starch. Thereby, it can be concluded that the chips of both processing have good technological and functional qualities, and that the frying process presented best hardness which led to greater acceptability and purchase intention.

Impact of alkaloids in food consumption, metabolism and survival in a blood-sucking insect.

The sense of taste provides information about the "good" or "bad" quality of a food source, which may be potentially nutritious or toxic. Most alkaloids taste bitter to humans, and because bitter taste is synonymous of noxious food, they are generally rejected. This response may be due to an innate low palatability or due to a malaise that occurs after food ingestion, which could even lead to death. We investigated in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus, whether alkaloids such as quinine, caffeine and theophylline, are merely distasteful, or if anti-appetitive responses are caused by a post-ingestion physiological effect, or both of these options. Although anti-appetitive responses were observed for the three alkaloids, only caffeine and theophylline affect metabolic and respiratory parameters that reflected an underlying physiological stress following their ingestion. Furthermore, caffeine caused the highest mortality. In contrast, quinine appears to be a merely unpalatable compound. The sense of taste helps insects to avoid making wrong feeding decisions, such as the intake of bitter/toxic foods, and thus avoid potentially harmful effects on health, a mechanism preserved in obligate hematophagous insects.

The neuroscience of sugars in taste, gut-reward, feeding circuits, and obesity.

Throughout the animal kingdom sucrose is one of the most palatable and preferred tastants. From an evolutionary perspective, this is not surprising as it is a primary source of energy. However, its overconsumption can result in obesity and an associated cornucopia of maladies, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Here we describe three physiological levels of processing sucrose that are involved in the decision to ingest it: the tongue, gut, and brain. The first section describes the peripheral cellular and molecular mechanisms of sweet taste identification that project to higher brain centers. We argue that stimulation of the tongue with sucrose triggers the formation of three distinct pathways that convey sensory attributes about its quality, palatability, and intensity that results in a perception of sweet taste. We also discuss the coding of sucrose throughout the gustatory pathway. The second section reviews how sucrose, and other palatable foods, interact with the gut-brain axis either through the hepatoportal system and/or vagal pathways in a manner that encodes both the rewarding and of nutritional value of foods. The third section reviews the homeostatic, hedonic, and aversive brain circuits involved in the control of food intake. Finally, we discuss evidence that overconsumption of sugars (or high fat diets) blunts taste perception, the post-ingestive nutritional reward value, and the circuits that control feeding in a manner that can lead to the development of obesity.

Artificial taste avoidance memory induced by coactivation of NMDA and ß-adrenergic receptors in the amygdala.

The association between a taste and gastric malaise allows animals to avoid the ingestion of potentially toxic food. This association has been termed conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and relies on the activity of key brain structures such as the amygdala and the insular cortex. The establishment of this gustatory-avoidance memory is related to glutamatergic and noradrenergic activity within the amygdala during two crucial events: gastric malaise (unconditioned stimulus, US) and the post-acquisition spontaneous activity related to the association of both stimuli. To understand the functional implications of these neurochemical changes on avoidance memory formation, we assessed the effects of pharmacological stimulation of ß-adrenergic and glutamatergic NMDA receptors through the administration of a mixture of L-homocysteic acid and isoproterenol into the amygdala after saccharin exposure on specific times to emulate the US and post-acquisition local signals that would be occurring naturally under CTA training. Our results show that activation of NMDA and ß-adrenergic receptors generated a long-term avoidance response to saccharin, like a naturally induced rejection with LiCl. Moreover, the behavioral outcome was accompanied by changes in glutamate, norepinephrine and dopamine levels within the insular cortex, analogous to those displayed during memory retrieval of taste aversion memory. Therefore, we suggest that taste avoidance memory can be induced artificially through the emulation of specific amygdalar neurochemical signals, promoting changes in the amygdala-insular cortex circuit enabling memory establishment.

Recognition of taste in patients during antineoplastic therapy with platinum drugs.

Taste changes caused by the use of platinum drugs have been described. However, few studies qualify the impaired tastes and whether these changes are derived exclusively from chemotherapy (QTx). AIMS: Evaluation of changes in sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami tastes in patients receiving QTx with platinum drugs was the aim of this study. METHODS: A total of 43 subjects, 21 from the study group and 22 from the control, were studied in two time periods, one before the start of QTx (T0) and another after two cycles of QTx (T1). The usual dietary intake, body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength and fatigue (through the fatigue pictogram) were evaluated to characterize the group studied. Taste Strips tests were performed for all 4 tastes and umami was studied by comparing Likert's scale using monosodium glutamate (GMS) food. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures (ANOVA), mixed model, with significance level p≤0.05. RESULTS: Salty and sour were the most affected tastes in the study group (p = 0.001 and 0.05); as well as the ionotropic receptors (p = 0.02) responsible for identifying these tastes. There was a difference between the times for BMI, dynamometry and impact in daily activities, by the fatigue pictogram (p = 0.008, 0.009 and 0.006 respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest an important role in altering taste recognition, mainly in salty and sour tastes, identified by ionotropic receptors, which seems to be related to dietary changes. QTx has demonstrated a contribution to impairment of functionality and fatigue.

Not Just Another Pint! The Role of Emotion Induced by Music on the Consumer's Tasting Experience.

We introduce a novel methodology to assess the influence of the emotion induced by listening to music on the consumer's multisensory tasting experience. These crossmodal effects were analyzed when two contrasting music tracks (positive vs negative emotion) were presented to consumers while tasting beer. The results suggest that the emotional reactions triggered by the music influenced specific aspects of the multisensory tasting experience. Participants liked the beer more, and rated it as tasting sweeter, when listening to music associated with positive emotion. The same beer was rated as more bitter, with higher alcohol content, and as having more body, when the participants listened to music associated with negative emotion. Moreover, participants were willing to pay 7-8% more for the beer that was tasted while they listened to positive music. This novel methodology was subsequently replicated with two different styles of beer. These results are discussed along with practical implications concerning the way in which music can add significant value to how a consumer responds to a brand.

Estradiol modulates the palatability of 0.3 M NaCl in female rats during sodium appetite.

Excessive salt intake has been associated with the development or worsening of chronic diseases such as hypertension and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) have a typical increased sodium preference. Estrogens reduce sodium appetite, but we do not know whether such effect relates to alterations in sodium palatability. Here we evaluated the influence of ovarian hormones on orofacial motor responses, an index of palatability, to intra-oral infusion of 0.3 M NaCl (IONaCl). Adult female SHR and normotensive Holtzman rats (HTZ) were used. Sodium appetite was produced by water deprivation followed immediately by partial rehydration by drinking water to satiation (WD-PR protocol). Immediately at the end of WD-PR, animals received an IO-NaCl for videotape recording of orofacial motor responses. At the end of IO-NaCl, they had access to two bottles containing 0.3 M NaCl and water to ingest (sodium appetite test). Bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) enhanced 0.3 M NaCl intake during the sodium appetite test and increased the frequency of orofacial hedonic responses to IO-NaCl in both strains. It had no effect on aversive responses. Estradiol treatment in SHR-OVX decreased hedonic responses and increased aversive responses to IO-NaCl. It also reduced 0.3 M NaCl intake during the sodium appetite test, but had no effect on baseline mean arterial pressure and heart rate. The results suggest that ovarian hormones restrain WD-PR-induced sodium appetite by reducing the hedonic properties of sodium taste. The results also suggest that estrogens mediate such reduction, particularly in SHR.

Quantitative sensory testing in elderly: longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate elderly patients in a geriatric service, along with their sensory characteristics and their association with clinical aspects. METHODS: This was a descriptive longitudinal study. We enrolled 36 healthy participants of both sexes in this study. The following instruments were used and evaluations performed: clinical evaluation, Mini-Mental State Exam, and quantitative sensory testing. RESULTS: During the follow-up, there was reduction of mean corpuscular volume at each evaluation (p < 0.001) and significant increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001). There was an increase of the olfactory (p < 0.001), salty (p = 0.024), sour (p = 0.020), bitter (p = 0.001), facial cold (p = 0.019), hand cold (p = 0.004), facial tactile (p < 0.001), hand tactile (p = 0.012) and facial vibration (p = 0.018) thresholds. Previous existing morbidities were associated with sensitivity changes in the individuals in this sample. CONCLUSION: This longitudinal study suggests that the loss of sensitivity with aging may be associated with the presence of morbidities in elders.

Sucrose intensity coding and decision-making in rat gustatory cortices.

Sucrose's sweet intensity is one attribute contributing to the overconsumption of high-energy palatable foods. However, it is not known how sucrose intensity is encoded and used to make perceptual decisions by neurons in taste-sensitive cortices. We trained rats in a sucrose intensity discrimination task and found that sucrose evoked a widespread response in neurons recorded in posterior-Insula (pIC), anterior-Insula (aIC), and Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Remarkably, only a few Intensity-selective neurons conveyed the most information about sucrose's intensity, indicating that for sweetness the gustatory system uses a compact and distributed code. Sucrose intensity was encoded in both firing-rates and spike-timing. The pIC, aIC, and OFC neurons tracked movement direction, with OFC neurons yielding the most robust response. aIC and OFC neurons encoded the subject's choices, whereas all three regions tracked reward omission. Overall, these multimodal areas provide a neural representation of perceived sucrose intensity, and of task-related information underlying perceptual decision-making.