Inducing Novel Sound–Taste Correspondences via an Associative Learning Task

• DOI: 10.1111/cogs.13421
• Publication Date: 2024-03-19T05:59:02Z
• Authors: Francisco Barbosa...; Qian Janice Wang
• Keywords: Crossmodal; Associative property; Associative learning; Sound symbolism; Association (psychology)

Abstract The interest in crossmodal correspondences, including those involving sounds and tastes, has experienced rapid growth recent years. However, the mechanisms underlying these correspondences are not well understood. In present study ( N = 302), we used an associative learning paradigm, based on previous literature using simple with no consensual taste associations (i.e., square triangle wave at 200 Hz) words sweet bitter), to test influence of two potential establishing sound–taste investigate whether either mechanism could give rise new long‐lasting associations. Specifically, examined emotional mediation account sad happy emoji facial expressions) a transitive path sound‐taste correspondence being mediated by color, red black colored squares). results revealed that paradigm mapping tone expression induced novel between this sound word sweet. Importantly, found association was still months after experimental paradigm. None other mappings, or transitive, gave any significant taste. These findings provide evidence tastes can be created leveraging affective connection both dimensions, helping elucidate Moreover, reveal last for several weeks session through which they were induced.