a theory stating that every gustatory stimulant(s) invokes a different trend of neural activity from the taste-cell populace and that this trend acts as the neural symbolization of the invoking stimulant(s). Taste quality is coded in the form of the invoked trend, while severity is symbolized by the total discharge rate.
PATTERNING THEORY OF TASTE CODING: “Next week, having prefaced yourselves with course readings, be prepared to detail the patterning theory of taste coding.”