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Category: Methods and Measures

Description: Scanning will be performed on a Siemens Prisma 3T scanner at the BRIC to collect functional and anatomical imaging data. Foam padding, and a vacuum pillow will limit head movement. Visual stimuli will be presented with a digital projector/reverse screen display system. Tastants will be delivered using programmable syringe pumps (Braintree Scientific BS-8000, Brain-Tree, MA) operated through a house-developed program written in python (available here: https://github.com/niblunc/taste_task) to ensure consistent volume, rate, and timing of taste delivery. A manifold attached to the head coil fits into the participants' mouths and delivers the tastes to a consistent tongue segment. Echo planar imaging will measure blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal as an indication of cerebral brain activation.