EEG Changes During Carbonated-Beverage Swallowing

The alterations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) activity of healthy adult males during the ingestion of carbonated beverages were investigated. The primary objective was to explore how carbonation levels affect brain activity, with a focus on the P300 component, which is associated with stimulus evaluation. Brain function was measured using an electroencephalograph placed on the scalp. The participants were provided with water, mildly carbonated water, and strongly carbonated water as the experimental stimuli. We analyzed time-series signals to identify and characterize P300 waves and conducted spectral analysis to observe changes in the power spectral density across different frequency bands. The findings indicated significant variations in the EEG signals corresponding to different carbonation levels of the beverages. Specifically, there was an observable increase in the beta-band power and a decrease in the alpha-band power as the carbonation level increased. These changes were most prominent for the electrodes near the frontal lobe. The results suggest that carbonated beverages elicit different neural responses from water, which can be accurately captured through EEG measurements. This study provides valuable insights into the functional activity of the brain during swallowing and highlights the potential of electroencephalography for studying sensory stimuli and motor control mechanisms.