The KNOSYS gustometer provides a simple method to deliver 8 different sapid substances to the behaving animal through a single multi-barrel drinking tube. These can serve as discriminative stimuli for tests of taste detection and taste discrimination.The liquid delivery tube is made of eight stainless steel mini tubes jacketed and slightly recessed into a larger stainless tube. Spaces between tubes are filled with a cured epoxy resin.
Each mini tube is connected to a reservoir via a normally closed solenoid pinch valve. By adjusting the height of the reservoir and opening time of the solenoid, reliable delivery of small volumes (2 - 100 ul) can be achieved.
The complete unit consists of one 8-channel drink tube, 8 pinch valve control solenoids and liquid reservoirs, KNOSYS operant chamber, KNOSYS digital interface, KNOSYS constant voltage shock unit (for optional punishment of incorrect responses) and a complete software package for taste detection and discrimination training.