Flavor perception and satiation

Taste, smell, and texture influence food palatability and intake as we tend to consume the foods we like, and avoid the foods we dislike. Beyond palatability, sensory signals like taste, smell, and texture inform learning and acquire their meaning through the physiological and psychological consequences of eating, and can have a dramatic impact on satiation, satiety, and the regulation of energy intake. Smell stimulates appetite and identifies food sources, taste signals the arrival of nutrients and the onset of satiation, and food texture moderates the rate of eating and oral metering of calories by the senses. In our highly palatable food environment, subtle differences in sensory quality, intensity, and texture can influence everyday eating behavior and energy intake, independently of liking. The chapter provides a summary of recent developments in our understanding of how sensory properties influence the onset of satiation, and implications of these findings for energy intake, and food development.