PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a physiological evaluation apparatus for a food texture which permits complicated sensory evaluation of food to be appropriately and objectively carried out.SOLUTION: The physiological evaluation apparatus is basically based on the knowledge that mandibular movements and lingual movements can be kept track of by measuring an electromyogram of a group of the right and left masseteric muscles and the suprahyoid muscles and furthermore that a complicated food texture can be objectively and physiologically evaluated by measuring the swallowing timing of the food and analyzing it in combination with data obtained by the electromyogram. The apparatus, basically, includes a first electromyograph 11 attached to the masseteric muscles region of the subject, a second electromyograph 12 attached to the suprahyoid muscles region of the subject, a swallowing measuring instrument 13 attached to the throat portion of the subject, and a controller 14 connected to the first electromyograph 11, the second electromyograph 12 and the swallowing measuring instrument 13.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】 本発明は,複雑な食品の官能評価を適切かつ客観的に行うことができる食感の生理学的評価装置を提供することを目的とする。【解決手段】 本発明は,基本的には,被験者の左右両側の咬筋及び舌骨上筋群の筋電図を測定することで,下顎運動及び舌運動を把握することができ,さらに,食品が嚥下されるタイミングを計測し,上記の筋電図により得られるデータと合わせて解析を行うことで,複雑な食感を客観的かつ生理学的に評価できるという知見に基づく。この装置は,基本的には,被験者の咬筋部位に取り付けられる第1の筋電計11と,被験者の舌骨上筋群部位に取り付けられる第2の筋電計12と,被験者ののど部に取り付けられる嚥下計測計13と,第1の筋電計11,第2の筋電計12及び嚥下計測計13と接続された制御装置14とを含む。【選択図】 図1
