JP6912855B2 - Perception evaluation method for food and drink - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the perception of food and drink.

Factors that affect the taste of food and drink are roughly classified into three types: perceptual factors, demanding factors, and cognitive factors (Non-Patent Document 1). The perceptual factor is an external stimulus derived from the properties of the food or drink itself, such as the components and structure of the food or drink, and the ingestion of the food or drink causes the perception of taste, aroma, texture, etc. Is.

Perceptual factors, which are mainly physicochemical properties, can directly measure the amount of components, temperature, hardness, etc. in foods and drinks mechanically or chemically. On the other hand, as a method of evaluating the perception that actually occurs in a person who ingests food and drink, sensory evaluation by a questionnaire has been generally used.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been developed as a method for measuring the physiological response occurring in a living body, particularly cerebral blood flow. This is a method of safely measuring the oxygen state of a living tissue using near-infrared light without damaging the human body. When the brain is activated, blood flow at the active site increases and the oxygen state of the tissue changes. By continuously measuring changes in the oxygen state of brain tissue using near-infrared spectroscopy, the active site on the surface of the cerebrum can be known. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method for evaluating the preference of food and drink by utilizing the response intensity of a change in cerebral blood flow.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-117839 JP-A-2010-51610

Evaluation method of "deliciousness" by texture model, Yasuyuki Sagara, Journal of Japan Society for Food Science and Technology, Vol. 56, No. 6, pp. 317-325, June 2009

In the method for evaluating food and drink using the response intensity of changes in cerebral blood flow, although attempts have been made to evaluate palatability, no other method for evaluating perception has been obtained so far.

In addition, although the physicochemical properties of the food and drink itself can be quantitatively grasped by analyzing the food and drink itself, what kind of perception and how much the property causes to a person is sensory by a questionnaire. When trying to evaluate, it is difficult to make an objective evaluation because it is judged subjectively. In addition, it is difficult to find the unconsciousness of the subjects who do not appear in the answers to the questionnaire. Therefore, there is a demand for an evaluation method that can objectively collect data on perceptions that occur in a subject without requiring a response by a questionnaire.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of objectively evaluating the perception caused by a subject ingesting food and drink.

The present inventors have found that the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting food and drink varies depending on the degree of perception generated in the subject. Therefore, the perception that occurs in the subject is relatively evaluated by measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the food and drink and obtaining the difference between the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion between a plurality of foods and drinks. I have developed a method that can be done.

In the method for evaluating the perception of foods and drinks of the present invention, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food and drink and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control food and drink in a specific brain region of the subject. It includes an evaluation step of evaluating the perception that occurs in the subject based on the difference.

The perceptual evaluation method can further include a measurement step of measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food or drink in a specific brain region of the subject.

In the above perception evaluation method, the perception may be a feeling of arousal, throat or taste intensity.

In the above-mentioned perception evaluation method, when the perception is arousal, the above-mentioned brain region is one or more selected from the group consisting of the anterior motor cortex, the orbitofrontal cortex, the inferior temporal prefrontal cortex, the middle temporal gyrus and the superior temporal gyrus. It is preferably a part included in the territory. When the perception is arousal, the brain region has channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 arranged as shown in FIG. , 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51 and 52. It may be a site measured by one or more channels selected.

In the above-mentioned perception evaluation method, when the perception is a strong taste, the above-mentioned brain region is selected from the group consisting of the anterior motor cortex, the frontal eye field, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the dorsolateral part of the prefrontal cortex (BA46). It is preferable that the part is included in the above territory. In addition, when the perception is the intensity of taste, the above-mentioned brain region has channels 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 arranged as shown in FIG. , 16, 19, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 50, 51 and 52. It may be a site measured by one or more channels selected.

In the perception evaluation method, when the perception is over the throat, the brain region is one or more areas selected from the group consisting of the anterior motor cortex, the middle temporal gyrus, the superior temporal gyrus, and the inferior frontal gyrus valve lid. It is preferable that the site is contained in. In addition, when the perception is through the throat, the above-mentioned brain region has channels 1, 5, 6, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26 arranged as shown in FIG. , 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 49, 50, 51 and 52. It may be a site measured by one or more channels selected.

In the above perception evaluation method, the food or drink is preferably a beer-taste beverage.

In the evaluation method of palatability for foods and drinks using changes in cerebral blood flow, an evaluation method specialized for beer-taste beverages has not been known so far. Therefore, the present inventors have studied to provide a method capable of objectively evaluating the taste of a subject, which is particularly suitable for a beer-taste beverage. Then, it was found that the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the beer-taste beverage was different depending on the degree of preference that the subject felt for the beer-taste beverage. Then, by measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the beer-taste beverage and obtaining the difference between the plurality of beverages in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion, the preference for the beer-taste beverage is relative. We have developed a method that can be evaluated in a positive manner.

That is, in the method for evaluating the preference of a beer-taste beverage of the present invention, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test beer-taste beverage and the brain before and after ingesting the control beer-taste beverage in a specific brain region of the subject. It includes an evaluation step of evaluating the preference for the test beer-taste beverage based on the difference from the amount of change in blood flow.

In the palatability evaluation method, it is preferable that the brain region is a region included in one or more territories selected from the group consisting of the anterior motor cortex, the frontal pole, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the inferior frontal circumvalvular region. .. In addition, the above-mentioned brain region has channels 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 arranged as shown in FIG. , 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 45, 46, 48, 49 and 50 may be sites measured by one or more channels selected from the group.

According to the perception evaluation method of the present invention, the perception caused by the subject ingesting food and drink can be objectively evaluated.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the channel arrangement used in the evaluation method which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation between the amount of change of cerebral blood flow and the feeling of arousal in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation between the amount of change of cerebral blood flow and the feeling of arousal in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation between the amount of change of cerebral blood flow and the intensity of taste in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation between the amount of change of cerebral blood flow and the intensity of taste in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation with the throat passage with the amount of change of cerebral blood flow in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation with the throat passage with the amount of change of cerebral blood flow in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation between the amount of change of cerebral blood flow and palatability in each analysis period. It is a figure which shows the channel which shows the correlation between the amount of change of cerebral blood flow and palatability in each analysis period.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

The perceptual evaluation method according to the present invention determines the difference between the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food and drink and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control food and drink in a specific brain region of the subject. Based on this, an evaluation step of evaluating the perception that occurs in the subject is included.

The perception to be evaluated in the perception evaluation method according to the present embodiment is derived from the property of the food and drink and occurs in the subject when ingesting the food and drink. Perception here is different from palatability. Specific examples of perception include arousal, throat, and taste intensity.

The amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion in a specific brain region appears depending on the degree of perception that occurs in the subject when ingesting each food or drink. Then, the pattern of the brain region where the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion appears differs depending on the type of perception to be evaluated. Therefore, the subject is made to ingest food and drink, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion is compared between a plurality of foods and drinks, and the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow appears based on the part of the brain and the magnitude of the difference. , It is possible to determine the type and degree of perception that occurs in the subject.

Differences in cerebral blood flow changes may be observed locally at overlapping sites, even with different types of perception. In that case, for example, it is possible to predict what kind of perception the subject felt by observing the pattern of the site where the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow appears.

The amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting each food and drink can be obtained by measuring the change in cerebral blood flow over time before and after the subject ingests each food and drink. Therefore, the perceptual evaluation method may further include a measurement step of measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food or drink in a specific brain region of the subject, and the specific brain of the subject. It may further include a measurement step of measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting a control food or drink at the site of.

In the present specification, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is measured by measuring the amount of oxyhemoglobin in blood near the surface of the cerebrum. Changes in the amount of oxyhemoglobin in blood can be measured by, for example, near-infrared spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and the like. Changes in the amount of oxyhemoglobin in blood are preferably measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. As the near-infrared spectroscopy, a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) may be used.

The index used in the perceptual evaluation method according to the present embodiment is the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting each food or drink, and specifically, immediately before ingesting each food or drink (0 seconds at the start of ingestion). It is the amount of change in cerebral blood flow after ingestion when the cerebral blood flow is 0. Hereinafter, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting each food or drink may be simply referred to as the amount of change in cerebral blood flow. The amount of change is a concept that considers positive and negative. For example, when the cerebral blood flow after ingestion of food and drink decreases by 0.01 mM · cm compared to before ingestion, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is "-0". It is "0.01 mM · cm". Further, for example, when the change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food and drink is -0.02 mM · cm and the change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control food and drink is -0.01 mM · cm. The difference between the former and the latter is -0.01 mM · cm. If the difference is a negative value, it means that the test food or drink has a lower change in cerebral blood flow than the control food or drink. On the contrary, if the difference is a positive value, it means that the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high.

(Standardization)
There are individual differences in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of food and drink. Therefore, when evaluating using the measured values (raw scores) of the cerebral blood flow changes in a plurality of foods and drinks as they are, it is necessary to compare the measured values of the same subject. On the other hand, by standardizing the measured value of the cerebral blood flow change amount for each subject, it becomes possible to compare the cerebral blood flow change amount between the subjects. In the standardization, for example, the measured value of the cerebral blood flow change before and after ingestion obtained by a certain subject is set to 0 as the average value for all the foods and drinks to be evaluated, and the variance is set to 1, and the ingestion in each food and drink is performed. This can be done by converting the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after. In each evaluation method in the present embodiment, the raw score of the same subject may be used as the amount of change in cerebral blood flow, or a standardized value of the raw score may be used.

The case where the change in cerebral blood flow before and after the subject ingests food and drink is measured by near-infrared spectroscopy will be described below.

To measure the amount of change in cerebral blood flow using a near-infrared spectroscopic analyzer, a light-transmitting probe and a light-receiving probe are attached to the head surface of the subject. The light transmitting probe irradiates the subject's brain with near-infrared light, and the near-infrared light emitted into the subject's brain is reflected by the cerebral cortex or the like and returned to the head surface, and is detected by the light receiving probe. Since oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin contained in the cerebral bloodstream have different absorption spectra for light in the near-infrared wavelength region, the near-infrared light emitted from the light transmitting probe is oxyhemoglobin contained in the cerebral bloodstream. Alternatively, the amount of light absorbed by deoxyhemoglobin and detected by the light receiving probe decreases reflecting the amounts of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the cerebral blood flow at the site where the near-infrared light has passed and the amounts of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin contained therein from the change in the amount of light during irradiation and detection. By measuring the change in the amount of light over time, it is possible to record the cerebral blood flow at the light irradiation site and the temporal change in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin contained therein as brain activity time series data. As the near-infrared spectroscopic analysis apparatus, for example, the fNIRS measuring apparatus "LABNIRS" manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation can be used.

In the present specification, each site where the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is actually measured by the combination of the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe is called a channel, and is between the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe placed on the head of the subject. Is the channel position. Although each channel can be provided at an arbitrary position on the head of the subject to measure the cerebral blood flow, it is desirable to provide the channel at a fixed position on the head for the reproducibility of the measurement.

Each channel can be arranged according to international 10-20 legal standards. The channel arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is an example of the channel arrangement for frontal measurement used in the fNIRS measuring device "LABNIRS" manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation. The channel arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is arranged so that the center of the channel 47 and the channel 48 is the Fpz of the subject's head, and the channels 37 and 16 are located on the midline from the Fpz to the Cz. There is. In the channel arrangement shown in FIG. 1, probes installed between the channels are arranged in a horizontal row at intervals of 3 cm, and rows adjacent to each other are arranged at intervals of 3 cm. In the horizontally and vertically adjacent probes, the light transmitting probe and the receiving probe are alternately arranged, and therefore, the rows of the vertically adjacent channels are arranged so that each channel is laterally displaced by 1.5 cm. .. The number of each channel can be arbitrarily set by the measurer, and may be different from the number of the channel arrangement shown in FIG. The channel number is preferably set to the number shown in FIG. The probe is preferably worn in accordance with international 10-20 legal standards so that it can be mounted in place on the heads of all subjects.

The names of the territories of the brain used in the present specification are the Korbinian Brodmann divisions commonly used as the anatomical divisions of the neocortex (commonly referred to as "Brodmann's brain map"). by. In Brodmann's brain atlas, areas with uniform tissue structure are divided into groups and numbered from 1 to 52. In this specification, the name of a territory of the brain is used to refer to an anatomical position in the brain, and is not necessarily associated with the function of the brain that is considered to be exerted in each territory. Further, the criteria for dividing the brain region is not limited to the above classification, and other classification methods may be used.

The part of the brain where cerebral blood flow is measured can be identified by the position of each channel placed on the head of the subject. When using the fNIRS measuring device "LABNIRS" manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation and using the channels arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the relationship between the parts measured by each channel and each area of the brain is as shown in Table 1. be. The territory number is based on Brodmann's brain map. The dorsolateral part of the prefrontal cortex has two corresponding territory numbers, BA9 and BA46. In the present specification, when simply referred to as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, it includes two areas represented by BA9 and BA46, and is referred to as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA9) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA46). When, it means the territory represented by each territory number.

A food or drink to be evaluated is provided to a subject who is equipped with a probe for near-infrared spectroscopic analysis and is in a state where cerebral blood flow can be measured. As a method for the subject to ingest food and drink, any method used in the sensory test can be applied. In near-infrared spectroscopy, it is desirable that the subject does not move his head as much as possible while ingesting food and drink. When comparing and evaluating a plurality of foods and drinks, it is desirable that the intake amount and intake time of each food and drink are the same.

The analysis period for measuring the change in cerebral blood flow can be, for example, any time between 0 and 60 seconds after the start of ingestion of food and drink, and the average of some of the above periods. Values may be used. For example, the analysis period may be between 8-18 seconds and 18-33 seconds after the start of ingestion of food and drink.

In each evaluation method, correction processing may be performed on the cerebral blood flow data measured by the near-infrared spectroscopic analysis to subtract the variation due to the difference in the head size of the subject. In each evaluation method according to the present embodiment, since the evaluation target and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow sufficiently show a correspondence, it is possible to perform a sufficiently reliable evaluation without performing the above correction. ..

The perception evaluation method according to this embodiment can be used for any food or drink. The food and drink is preferably a beverage. The perception evaluation method according to the present embodiment is particularly suitable for a beer-taste beverage described later.

(Awakening evaluation method)
In the perception evaluation method according to the present embodiment, the perception to be evaluated can be a sense of awakening. That is, the perceptual evaluation method is based on the difference between the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food and drink and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control food and drink in a specific brain region of the subject. , The method for evaluating the arousal sensation of food and drink, which includes an evaluation step for evaluating the arousal sensation that occurs in the subject.

As used herein, the sense of awakening refers to the sensation of feeling awake. If the feeling of arousal is strong, for example, it feels refreshing or refreshing, and if the feeling of arousal is weak, for example, it feels relaxed.

When the evaluation target is arousal, the parts of the brain that detect the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow between food and drink are from the anterior motor cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, inferior prefrontal cortex, middle temporal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus. It is preferable that the site is contained in one or more territories selected from the group. The brain region may be a region included across a plurality of the above territories.

In the arousal evaluation method, if the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is higher than that in the control food or drink in any of the above areas, the subject ingests the test food or drink. It can be determined that the feeling of arousal was stronger than that of the food and drink, and when the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food and drink was lower than that of the control food and drink at the site, when the subject ingested the test food and drink. It can be determined that the feeling of arousal was weaker than that of the control food and drink. In addition, channels 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 15, 17, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43 of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 , 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51 and 52 can be similarly determined. Brain regions are channels 1, 2, 3, 12, 15, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 51 and 52. It is preferable that the site is measured by either one. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

On the other hand, at the site measured by any of channels 4, 5, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 28 and 29 in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, cerebral blood flow in the test food and drink relative to the control food and drink. When the amount of change is low, it can be determined that the subject felt a stronger sense of arousal than the control food and drink when ingesting the test food and drink, and the brain of the test food and drink was compared with the control food and drink at the site. When the amount of change in blood flow is high, it can be determined that the subject felt weaker arousal than the control food or drink when ingesting the test food or drink. The site is preferably a site measured by any of channels 5, 16 and 28.

(Taste intensity evaluation method)
In the perception evaluation method according to the present embodiment, the perception to be evaluated can be defined as the intensity of taste. That is, the perceptual evaluation method is based on the difference between the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food and drink and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control food and drink in a specific brain region of the subject. , The method for evaluating the taste intensity of foods and drinks, which includes an evaluation step for evaluating the taste intensity felt by the subject. The taste referred to here is not limited to the taste of the basic five tastes, and includes, for example, flavors brought about by richness, aroma, and the like. Further, the taste intensity is not directly determined by the concentration of seasoning components in foods and drinks, but refers to the perception that the subject perceives as the taste intensity when ingested.

When the evaluation target is taste intensity, the parts of the brain that detect the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow between foods and drinks are the anterior motor cortex, frontal eye field, prefrontal cortex dorsolateral part (BA46) and orbitofrontal cortex. It is preferably a site contained in one or more territories selected from the field group. The brain region may be a region included across a plurality of the above territories.

In the method for evaluating the taste intensity of foods and drinks, if the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink in the site included in the anterior motor cortex or the orbitofrontal cortex, the subject is tested. It can be determined that the food or drink has a stronger taste than the control food or drink, and if the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is lower than that in the control food or drink at the site, the subject is the test food or drink. It can be determined that the taste is lighter than that of the control food or drink. Further, the same determination can be made at the portion measured by any of the channels 1, 30, 31, 41, 42, 47, 50, 51 and 52 of the arrangement shown in FIG. The brain region is preferably the region measured by any of channels 1, 30, 41, 42, 47, 51 and 52. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

On the other hand, if the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is lower than that in the control food or drink at the site included in the frontal eye field or the dorsolateral part of the prefrontal cortex (BA46), the subject controls the test food or drink. It can be determined that the taste is stronger than that of the product, and if the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is higher than that in the control food or drink at the site, the subject selects the test food or drink as compared to the control food or drink. It can be determined that the taste is light. In addition, channels 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34 arranged as shown in FIG. , 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 can be similarly determined. The brain region is preferably the region measured by any of channels 5, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 25, 28, 29, 38 and 39. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

(Evaluation method over the throat)
In the perception evaluation method according to the present embodiment, the perception to be evaluated can be passed through the throat. That is, the perceptual evaluation method is based on the difference between the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test food and drink and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control food and drink in a specific brain region of the subject. , The method for evaluating the throat of food and drink, which includes an evaluation step of evaluating the throat felt by the subject.

Evaluating the throat feeling of a subject means evaluating whether the subject feels a strong or weak throat when ingesting the food or drink to be evaluated.

When the evaluation target is through the throat, the part of the brain that detects the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow between foods and drinks consists of the anterior motor cortex, middle temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus valve lid. It is preferably a site contained in one or more territories selected from the group. The brain region may be a region included across a plurality of the above territories.

In the throat evaluation method, if the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is higher than that in the control food or drink in any of the above areas, the subject selects the test food or drink as compared to the control food or drink. If it can be determined that the patient feels that the throat is strong, and the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is lower than that in the control food or drink at the site, the subject makes the test food or drink more than the control food or drink. It can be determined that the person feels that the blood flow is weak. Further, it is measured by any of channels 1, 20, 23, 24, 30, 31, 32, 34, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 50, 51 and 52 in the arrangement shown in FIG. The same can be made for the same part. The brain region is preferably the region measured by any of channels 1, 23, 24, 30, 31, 32, 40, 41, 43, 44, 47, 51 and 52. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

On the other hand, by any of channels 5, 6, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 49 of the arrangement shown in FIG. If the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is lower than that in the control food or drink at the site to be measured, it can be determined that the subject feels that the test food or drink is stronger than the control food or drink. If the change in cerebral blood flow in the test food or drink is higher than that in the control food or drink at the site, it can be determined that the subject feels that the test food or drink is weaker than the control food or drink. .. The site may be a site measured by any of channels 6, 8, 14, 15, 16, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 49. preferable. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

(Preference evaluation method)
The present invention also provides a method for evaluating the palatability of beer-taste beverages. The method for evaluating the preference of beer-taste beverages is the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test beer-taste beverage and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control beer-taste beverage in a specific brain region of the subject. Includes an evaluation step of evaluating the palatability of the test beer-taste beverage based on the difference between the above.

In the present specification, evaluating the preference for a beer-taste beverage means evaluating whether the beer-taste beverage to be evaluated is preferable or unfavorable to the subject.

When a subject ingests a beer-taste beverage, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion at a specific brain region appears depending on the degree of preference for the beer-taste beverage. Therefore, the subject was made to ingest a beer-taste beverage, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion was compared among a plurality of beer-taste beverages, and the degree of preference for the ingested beer-taste beverage was relative based on the magnitude of the difference. It is possible to make a judgment.

The amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting each beer-taste beverage can be obtained by measuring the change in cerebral blood flow over time before and after the subject ingests each beer-taste beverage. Therefore, the preference evaluation method may further include a measurement step of measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test beer-taste beverage in a specific brain region of the subject, and also identifies the subject. It may further include a measurement step of measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control beer-taste beverage in the brain region of the above.

In the method for evaluating the taste of beer-taste beverages, the same embodiment as the above-mentioned perceptual evaluation method can be applied as a specific method for measuring the amount of change in cerebral blood flow.

In the present specification, the beer-taste beverage means a beverage having a beer-like flavor, and includes beer defined by the Liquor Tax Act (Act No. 6 of February 28, 1945). The beer-taste beverage includes a non-alcoholic beer-taste beverage having an alcohol content of less than 1 v / v% and a beer-taste alcoholic beverage having an alcohol content of 1 v / v% or more. Non-alcoholic beer-taste beverages also include alcohol-free beverages with an alcohol content of 0.00v / v%. Examples of beer-taste alcoholic beverages include beer, low-malt beer, other brewed liquors, and low-malt beer beverages made by adding spirits to low-malt beer (liqueurs defined by the Japanese Liquor Tax Law). In this specification, alcohol means ethanol unless otherwise specified.

In the method for evaluating the palatability of beer-taste beverages, the part of the brain that detects the difference in the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is selected from the group consisting of the anterior motor cortex, the frontal pole, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the inferior frontal circumflex valve lid. It is preferable that the part is included in the above territory. The brain region may be a region included across a plurality of the above territories.

In the method for evaluating the palatability of beer-taste beverages, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the test beer-taste beverage is higher than that in the control beer-taste beverage in the site included in either the anterior motor field or the inferior frontal circumflex valve lid. It can be determined that the subject felt that the test beer-taste beverage was preferable to the control beer-taste beverage, and the change in cerebral blood flow in the test beer-taste beverage was lower than that in the control beer-taste beverage at the site. It can be determined that the subject felt that the test beer-taste beverage was less favorable than the control beer-taste beverage. Further, the same determination can be made at the portion measured by any of the channels 1, 20, 23, 24, 31, 34 and 41 of the arrangement shown in FIG. The brain region is preferably the region measured by channel 23 or 31. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

On the other hand, if the change in cerebral blood flow in the test beer-taste beverage is lower than that in the control beer-taste beverage at the site contained in either the frontal pole or the orbital frontal pole, the subject selects the test beer-taste beverage as the control beer. If it can be determined that the test beer taste drink is more preferable than the taste drink and the change in cerebral blood flow in the test beer taste drink is higher than that of the control beer taste drink at the site, the subject selects the test beer taste drink as the control beer. It can be determined that the taste beverage is less preferable than the taste beverage. Further, channels 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 48 arranged as shown in FIG. 1 , 49 and 50 can be determined in the same manner at the site measured. Brain regions are measured by any of channels 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46 and 49. It is preferably a site. By using the parts measured by these channels, it is possible to make a more accurate determination.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to Examples. The present invention is not limited to the following examples.

The correlation between various perceptions felt when ingesting the sample and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow was confirmed by the following experimental examples. In addition, the correlation between the preference for the sample and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow was confirmed.

In each of the following experimental examples, the amount of change in cerebral blood flow was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. For the measurement, an fNIRS measuring device LABNIRS (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) was used. Channels were arranged and numbered as shown in FIG. In order to arrange the channels at a fixed position, the head is measured based on the international 10-20 legal standard, the center of the channel 47 and the channel 48 shown in FIG. 1 is the Fpz of the subject's head, and the median from Fpz to Cz. The channels were arranged so that the channels 37 and 16 were located on the line. The probes to be installed between the channels were arranged in a horizontal row at intervals of 3 cm, and the rows adjacent to each other were arranged at intervals of 3 cm. The probes adjacent to each other on the side and the top and bottom were arranged so that the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe were alternately arranged. Table 1 shows the names of the territories of the brain to which each channel number belongs.

As evaluation samples, a total of 3 types of commercially available beer and 1 type of "other brewed liquor (sparkling) (1)" having a beer taste were used. Each sample was provided to the subject in a state of being dispensed into a plastic cup, and information such as the product name of the sample was hidden.

Each subject was allowed to drink 20 ml of each of the above samples at once, and 8-18 seconds and 18-33 seconds after ingestion, based on the reference (0) immediately before ingesting each sample (0 seconds after the start of ingestion). The amount of change in cerebral blood flow was measured. The total number of subjects was 30, and each subject performed the measurement twice for the same sample.

The subjects were also evaluated by a questionnaire each time they ingested each sample. The questions asked about the ingested sample were "Did you feel refreshed / refreshed?" (Awakening), "Did you feel the taste was strong" (Deep taste), and "Did you feel the throat?" (Throat) (Over) and "Do you like it?" (Preference). Each evaluation was performed by the visual evaluation scale (VAS) method, and the case where each question item was not felt at all was set to 0, and the case where it felt stronger than this was set to 100, and each sample was evaluated by the subject himself / herself.

The area value of the change in cerebral blood flow in each channel was calculated for each analysis period (8-18 seconds and 18-33 seconds after sample intake). Then, the correlation between the area value of the amount of change in cerebral blood flow during each analysis period and the evaluation result by the questionnaire was examined by Pearson's product moment correlation analysis (raw score evaluation). In addition, the same measurement results were used to standardize the amount of change in cerebral blood flow. Specifically, for each analysis period of each subject, the average value of all the samples was set to 0, the variance was converted to 1, and a standardized value was obtained. Then, as in the case of the raw score, the correlation with the evaluation result by the questionnaire was examined by Pearson's product moment correlation analysis.

(Awakening evaluation result)
Figures 2 and 3 show the channels in which the correlation between the results of the arousal questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow was observed. In FIG. 2A, the analysis period is 8-18 seconds, and in FIG. 2B, the arousal questionnaire result and the cerebral blood flow change amount (standardization) are positive or negative in the analysis period 18-33 seconds. The channels in which the correlation was observed (channels with a p-value of less than 0.1 or greater than 0.1 and less than 0.2) are emphasized. The positive correlation here means that the stronger the sensation of arousal, the higher the amount of change in cerebral blood flow, and the weaker the sensation of arousal, the lower the amount of change in cerebral blood flow. Further, the negative correlation means that the weaker the sensation of arousal is, the higher the change in cerebral blood flow is, and the stronger the sensation of arousal is, the lower the change in cerebral blood flow is.

In addition, FIG. 3 shows a channel in which a correlation was observed between the arousal feeling questionnaire result and the cerebral blood flow change amount when the raw score was used as the cerebral blood flow change amount. In FIG. 3A, the analysis period is 8-18 seconds, and in FIG. 3B, the arousal questionnaire result and the cerebral blood flow change amount (raw score) are positive or negative in the analysis period 18-33 seconds. The channels with the correlation are emphasized.

From the above results, the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 as a positive correlation shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b), 3 (a) and 3 (b). When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink in any one or more of the channels less than 2, when the subject ingests the test food or drink. It is more likely that a feeling of arousal was felt more strongly than the control food and drink, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in the channel where the p-value is less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test food and drink was higher than that of the control food and drink, the subject felt a stronger sense of arousal than the control food and drink when ingesting the test food and drink. Can be determined.

Conversely, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b), 3 (a) and 3 (b), the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 and less than 0.2 as a negative correlation. When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test food and drink is higher than that of the control food and drink in any one or more of the channels, the control is performed when the subject ingests the test food and drink. It is more likely that the feeling of arousal was weaker than that of food and drink, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in a channel having a p-value of less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test food and drink was higher than that of the control food and drink, the subject felt weaker arousal than the control food and drink when ingesting the test food and drink. Can be determined.

(Result of evaluation of taste intensity)
Figures 4 and 5 show the channels in which the correlation between the results of the taste intensity questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow was observed. In FIG. 4 (a), there is a positive difference between the result of the taste intensity questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow (standardization) in the analysis period of 8-18 seconds and in FIG. 4 (b) of the analysis period of 18-33 seconds. Alternatively, channels with a negative correlation are emphasized. The positive correlation here means that the more intense the taste is, the higher the change in cerebral blood flow is, and the lighter the taste is, the lower the change in cerebral blood flow is. Further, the negative correlation means that the lighter the taste, the higher the change in cerebral blood flow, and the stronger the taste, the lower the cerebral blood flow.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a channel in which a correlation between the taste intensity questionnaire result and the cerebral blood flow change amount was observed when the raw score was used as the cerebral blood flow change amount. In FIG. 5 (a), there is a positive or negative correlation between the result of the taste intensity questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow in the analysis period of 8-18 seconds and in FIG. 5 (b) of the analysis period of 18-33 seconds. The channels seen are emphasized.

From the above results, the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 as a positive correlation shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), 5 (a) and 5 (b). When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test food and drink is higher than that of the control food and drink in any one or more of the channels less than 2, the subject is the test food and drink than the control food and drink. There is a high possibility that the product has a strong taste, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in a channel having a p-value of less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink, it can be determined that the subject feels that the test food or drink has a stronger taste than the control food or drink. can.

Conversely, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), 5 (a) and 5 (b), the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 and less than 0.2 as a negative correlation. When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink in any one or more of the channels, the subject is in the food or drink rather than the control food or drink. On the other hand, it is highly possible that the taste was light, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in the channel having a p-value of less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink, it can be determined that the subject feels that the test food or drink has a lighter taste than the control food or drink. can.

(Evaluation result over throat)
Figures 6 and 7 show the channels in which the correlation between the results of the throat questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow was observed. In FIG. 6A, the analysis period is 8-18 seconds, and in FIG. 6B, the throat-passing questionnaire result and the cerebral blood flow change amount (standardization) are positive or negative in the analysis period 18-33 seconds. The channels with the correlation of are emphasized. The positive correlation here means that the stronger the throat is felt, the higher the cerebral blood flow change is, and the weaker the throat is, the lower the cerebral blood flow change is. Means. In addition, the negative correlation means that the weaker the throat, the higher the change in cerebral blood flow, and the stronger the throat, the lower the change in cerebral blood flow. means.

In addition, FIG. 7 shows a channel in which a correlation was observed between the result of the questionnaire over the throat and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow when the raw score was used as the amount of change in cerebral blood flow. A positive or negative correlation was observed between the results of the throat questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow during the analysis period of 8-18 seconds in FIG. 7 (a) and in the analysis period of 18-33 seconds in FIG. 7 (b). Channels are emphasized.

From the above results, the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 as a positive correlation shown in FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b), 7 (a) and 7 (b). When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test food and drink is higher than that of the control food and drink in any one or more of the channels less than 2, the subject is the test food and drink than the control food and drink. There is a high possibility that the product feels strong in the throat, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in a channel having a p-value of less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink, it is determined that the subject feels that the test food or drink is stronger than the control food or drink. Can be done.

Conversely, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b), 7 (a) and 7 (b), the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 and less than 0.2 as a negative correlation. When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink in any one or more of the channels, the subject becomes the test food or drink rather than the control food or drink. On the other hand, there is a high possibility that the throat is weak, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in a channel having a p-value of less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test food or drink is higher than that of the control food or drink, it is determined that the subject feels that the test food or drink is weaker than the control food or drink. Can be done.

(Preference evaluation result)
The channels showing the correlation between the palatability evaluation result and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8 (a), there is a positive or negative difference between the palatability questionnaire result and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow (standardization) in the analysis period of 8-18 seconds and in FIG. 8 (b) of the analysis period of 18-33 seconds. The channels with the correlation of are emphasized. The positive correlation here means that the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is higher so that it is felt more favorable, and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is lower so that it is felt more favorable. Further, the negative correlation means that the more unfavorable the change in cerebral blood flow is, and the more favorable the change is, the lower the cerebral blood flow is.

Further, FIG. 9 shows a channel in which a correlation between the palatability questionnaire result and the cerebral blood flow change amount was observed when the raw score was used as the cerebral blood flow change amount. A positive or negative correlation was observed between the results of the palatability questionnaire and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow during the analysis period of 8-18 seconds in FIG. 9 (a) and in the analysis period of 18-33 seconds in FIG. 9 (b). Channels are emphasized.

From the above results, the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 as a positive correlation shown in FIGS. 8 (a), 8 (b), 9 (a) and 9 (b). When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test beer-taste beverage is higher than that of the control beer-taste beverage in any one or more of the channels less than 2, the subject is more than the control beer-taste beverage. Is more likely to be preferred for the test beer-taste beverage, and is even more likely when the change in cerebral blood flow is high in channels with a p-value less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test beer-taste beverage is higher than that of the control beer-taste beverage, it is determined that the subject feels that the test beer-taste beverage is preferable to the control beer-taste beverage. be able to.

Conversely, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a), 8 (b), 9 (a) and 9 (b), the p-value is less than 0.1 or more than 0.1 and less than 0.2 as a negative correlation. When the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingesting the test beer-taste beverage is higher than that of the control beer-taste beverage in any one or more of the channels, the subject has the beer-taste beverage. It is highly likely that it felt unfavorable, and the above possibility is even higher when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow is high in a channel having a p-value of less than 0.1. Therefore, in these channels, when the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingestion of the test beer-taste beverage was higher than that of the control beer-taste beverage, it was determined that the subject felt that the test beer-taste beverage was less preferable than the control beer-taste beverage. can do.

By using the perception evaluation method or the preference evaluation method according to the present invention, it is possible to objectively evaluate various perceptions that occur in the subject or the preference that the subject feels. Therefore, for example, these evaluation methods can be applied to the development of foods and drinks.

Claims (2)

The test beer taste is based on the difference between the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the test beer-taste beverage and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after ingesting the control beer-taste beverage in a specific brain region of the subject. Includes an evaluation process to evaluate palatability for beer
In the evaluation step, when the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingestion of the test beer-taste beverage is higher than the change in cerebral blood flow of the subject before and after ingestion of the control beer-taste beverage, the subject selects the test beer-taste beverage as the control beer-taste beverage. Including determining that it feels less favorable than
The specific brain region is a region in which the subject's preference for beer-taste beverage and the amount of change in cerebral blood flow before and after the subject ingests the beer-taste beverage show a negative correlation. Gender evaluation method. The palatability evaluation method according to claim 1, wherein the brain region is a region included in one or more territories selected from the group consisting of the frontal pole and the orbitofrontal cortex.

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