A look into cross-modal associations between taste, color and music

Chambers, P; Patera, M; Cox, TJ

Abstract

This paper explores how color and sound can alter taste perception and in particular whether there are any cross-modal associations between these three stimuli. It questions how information from stimuli outside the realms of gastronomy is combined in the brain to influence a person’s taste perception. This study tested how colored ambient lighting and piano music can influence people’s sweet taste; this is the first experiment to study the associations between all three stimuli. The experiment provided some interesting results; most significantly it was found that the color red and high pitch piano music both have a significant impact upon a person’s enjoyment of sweet taste.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 8, 2016
• Publication Date: Feb 8, 2016
• Deposit Date: Apr 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 19, 2016
• Journal: Color Culture and Science
• Print ISSN: 2384--9568
• Volume: 5
• Pages: 49-54
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.23738/ccsj.i52016.06
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.23738/ccsj.i52016.06
• Related Public URLs: http://www.gruppodelcolore.it/; http://jcolore.gruppodelcolore.it/ojs/index.php/CCSJ/index