Ability of newborn infants to discriminate sapid substances.

Observed taste preferences in newborn infants to determine (a) the ability of newborns to discriminate different sapid substances and different molar concentrations within those substances and (b) the role of immediate prior sucking and ingestion experience in altering subsequent oral behavior. Ss were 48 male and 48 female full-term, single birth 1-3 day old infants. Results show that the sucking rate varied with the substance (glucose, sucrose, and water) delivered through the nipple and with the order in which the substances were presented within a test session. Amount of fluid delivery was controlled automatically by the infant's own sucking behavior, a procedure which provides a taste preference report as well as evidence of the discriminability of taste substances. It remains to be demonstrated that profound taste aversions, resulting in complete inhibition of sucking, are also present at this young age. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)