Hallock Robert M, Di Lorenzo Patricia M
Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Binghamton, Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2006;30(8):1145-60. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.07.005. Epub 2006 Sep 18.
Early investigations of temporal coding in the gustatory system showed that the time course of responses in some neurons showed systematic differences across the various classes of taste stimuli, implying that the temporal characteristics of a response can convey information about a taste stimulus. Studies of temporal coding in the gustatory system have grappled with several unique methodological challenges, including the quantitative description and comparison of temporal patterns as well as the assessment of the relative contributions of spatial and temporal coding to the information contained in a response to a tastant. Other investigations have suggested that the cooperative activity among synchronously firing ensembles of taste-responsive neurons at all levels of processing in the brain can convey information about taste quality (sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami). Behavioral studies using patterned electrical stimulation of the brain in awake animals have supported the idea that temporal coding of taste stimuli may have functional significance.
味觉系统中时间编码的早期研究表明，某些神经元反应的时间进程在不同类别的味觉刺激中表现出系统性差异，这意味着反应的时间特征可以传达有关味觉刺激的信息。味觉系统中时间编码的研究面临着几个独特的方法学挑战，包括时间模式的定量描述和比较，以及评估空间和时间编码对味觉刺激反应中所含信息的相对贡献。其他研究表明，大脑各级味觉反应神经元同步放电集合之间的协同活动可以传达有关味觉品质（甜、酸、咸、苦和鲜味）的信息。在清醒动物中使用模式化电刺激大脑的行为研究支持了味觉刺激的时间编码可能具有功能意义这一观点。
