A predictive model for sensory difference tests accounting for sequence effects

Sequential Sensitivity Analysis (SSA) and conditional stimulus model have been developed to describe sequence effects in difference tests and proposed to generate prediction of differences in sensitivity between various test protocols and to assist the appropriate selection of difference test. Yet, such models did not furnish a complete explanation of the relative sensitivity in 4 different versions of 3-alternative forced choice (AFC) tests where various interstimulus rinses were introduced. In the present study, the vector of the contrasts between various conditional stimuli were measured using same-different and 2-AFC and a new 16-distribution conditional stimulus model was developed by refining Lee and O'Mahony's contrast model. This new model gave superior predictions than previous models.