Before the experiment started, the participants were given 20 ml of distilled water to rinse their mouth and then to expecto- rate into a disposable cup. Next, a taste code appeared on the com- puter monitor; the participant would tell the number to the experimenter, who then gave the appropriate tastant to the partic- ipant. The participants held the tastant in their mouth for approx- imately five seconds, and then expectorated the liquid into a glass. After responding to the different scales for a particular taste, the participants were then instructed to cleanse their palette again before moving to the next trial.