Salivation: A Review and Experimental Investigation of Major Techniques

Techniques for assessing salivation were reviewed and several problem areas highlighted including measurement and reliability problems, and questions relating to sex and gland differences. Ten mate and 10 female undergraduate students took part in an experiment to examine critical issues and assess the comparability of the most frequently used techniques (whole mouth, parotid capsule, and cotton swabs). Results showed that methods were significantly intercorrelated, sex differences were minimal, and laterality effects small and inconsistent.