Electrogustometry (EGM) explanation

10-09-2025

Electrogustometry (EGM) is an objective way to measure taste function by applying tiny, precisely controlled electrical stimuli to the tongue or oral mucosa. Because EGM quantifies taste thresholds in microamps rather than relying solely on self-report with chemical solutions, it’s a powerful complement to smell (olfactory) assessment in comprehensive chemosensory clinics and research labs across Europe.

How electrogustometry works (and why it supports smell assessment)

EGM delivers brief, constant-current pulses via a dedicated electrode. Modern bipolar/concentric electrodes focus current in taste tissue and minimize spread through non-taste tissue—important for clinical practicality and data quality. Recent work validated bipolar stimulation for EGM, strengthening confidence in the method’s use in practice. PubMed

Clinically, EGM helps you:

Screen and quantify taste loss or distortion (hypogeusia, ageusia, dysgeusia).
Differentiate peripheral vs. central issues by testing left/right nerve territories.
Contextualize smell complaints (e.g., post-viral symptoms) with an objective taste metric, improving overall chemosensory profiling and follow-up.

Sensonics Electrogustometer SI-03

We supply the Sensonics Electrogustometer SI-03—a state-of-the-art instrument designed for both threshold and suprathreshold testing. It provides discrete stimulus pulses (≈0.5–2 s) across a logarithmic 12-step range from 0.25 μA (−30 dB) to 450 μA (35 dB) with constant-current control. The key advantages of this device are:

Objective, reproducible thresholds for taste.
Bipolar electrode option for localized stimulation and patient comfort.
Quick setup without the mess of chemical taste solutions.

Evidence base: validated bipolar stimulation

A 2023 study validated bipolar electrode stimulation for electrogustometry—an important update that supports the SI-03’s electrode approach and optimizes clinical feasibility. PubMed

When to choose EGM

ENT / Neurology clinics: baseline taste thresholds, lateralized testing, post-viral workups.
Research protocols: objective endpoints for interventional or longitudinal studies.
Occupational health / Clinical trials: standardized, numeric outcome measures to track change over time.

Practical pathway: integrate taste + smell

A practical pathway is to integrate taste and smell: use electrogustometry (EGM) to quantify taste thresholds, then pair the results with validated smell identification and threshold tools—such as Sniffin’ Sticks or UPSIT/ B-SIT—to complete the chemosensory profile.

Want more information, please contact us through info@medi-sense.nl