Taste is associated with hedonic evaluation as well as recognition of quality and intensity. Taste information is sent to the cortical gustatory area in a chemotopical manner to be processed for discrimination of taste quality. It is also conveyed to the reward system and feeding center via the prefrontal cortices. The amygdala, which receives taste inputs, also influences reward and feeding. In terms of neuroactive substances, palatability is closely related to benzodiazepine derivatives and β-endorphin, both of which facilitate consumption of food and fluid. The reward system contains the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum and finally sends information to the lateral hypothalamic area, the feeding center. The dopaminergic system originating from the ventral tegmental area mediates the motivation to consume palatable food. The actual ingestive behavior is promoted by the orexigenic neuropeptides from the hypothalamus. Even palatable food can become aversive and avoided as a consequence of postingestional unpleasant experience such as malaise. The brain mechanism of these aspects of taste is elucidated.

• Takashi Yamamoto(Kio University Faculty of Health Scineces, Department of Health and Nutrition 4-2-2 umaminaka) Corresponding author