How temperature affects our food choices and preferences
Temperature and thermogustatory preferences
This project explores how the temperature of food influences our taste experiences and eating behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Norman, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11110466 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When we eat, the temperature of our food plays a role alongside taste and smell in creating its overall flavor. This project aims to understand how our bodies sense temperature in the mouth and how these sensations guide our food preferences and eating habits. Researchers are using special equipment with mice to observe how they respond to different food temperatures, especially focusing on a specific cold-sensing receptor. This work will help us learn more about the basic biology of flavor and how it affects what we choose to eat.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is conducted in mice, but future studies may be relevant to individuals experiencing issues with appetite, food preferences, or eating disorders.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide foundational knowledge to better understand appetite regulation and eating disorders in humans.
How similar studies have performed: This area of how temperature sensing impacts ingestive preferences is largely unexplored, making this a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Norman, United States
- University of Oklahoma — Norman, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lemon, Christian H — University of Oklahoma
- Study coordinator: Lemon, Christian H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.