Fear Reduces Perceived Sweetness: Changes in the Perception of Taste due
to Emotional State
Abstract
This study manipulated the emotional state of participants by having
them watch movies involving comedy, horror, and beautiful scenery. High
state anxiety was triggered among the participants who watched a horror
movie, and high juice consumption was confirmed among them. The
perception of sweetness of the mixed juice was found to be reduced in
the horror movie group compared to the other two groups, while the
comedy movie group participants were found to have tasted less
bitterness than did the horror movie group participants. Furthermore,
the relationship between liking the juice and sweetness was found to
differ according to emotional state. This study confirms that our
emotional state affects our perception of taste, including that feeling
fear and anxiety can reduce the perception of sweetness. These findings
suggest that our emotional state may affect our perception of taste.