Latest

taste perception

·October 5, 2023·7 min read

A New Flavor Frontier: Is Ammonium Our Sixth Basic Taste?

The tongue’s response to ammonium chloride, a component in some candies, may indicate a sixth basic taste. The study illuminated that OTOP1, a protein receptor that signals sour taste, also responds notably to ammonium chloride.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 24, 2023·5 min read

The Bitter Truth: Illness, Inflammation, and the Genetic Code of Taste

A new study delves into the relationship between taste perception and immune function, focusing on the bitter taste experienced during illness. The study identified that inflammation elevates aversion to bitter tastes, a change stemming from the taste buds.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 10, 2023·3 min read

Neurological Symphony of Taste: Unraveling the Brain’s Flavor Pathways

Researchers are delving into the intricacies of taste perception and its impact on the brain. Their goal is to understand how the brain processes sensations like the sweet pleasure of a dessert or the fiery burn of a hot pepper. The team found that taste and touch sensations can stimulate the same neurons in the midbrain. This intriguing overlap hints at the brain's 'multitasking' abilities, where limited cells perform multiple functions. By exploring the interplay between taste and touch, and the emotional responses they elicit, this five-year project hopes to shed light on fundamental principles of brain organization, potentially leading to health and disease insights.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·March 26, 2023·4 min read

How Salt Can Taste Sweet

Researchers have identified new mechanisms of taste perception. The study reports chloride ion channels bind to sweet taste receptors to evoke taste sensation.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 23, 2023·5 min read

Chicory, Surrogate and Roasted Coffee Provide New Insights Into Mechanisms of Taste Perception

The bitter compounds of chicory exhibit a receptor activation profile that overlaps with roasted coffee compounds, resulting in a similar taste profile. However, the impact on three taste receptors differs between the substances.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 23, 2022·4 min read

Picky Eaters Are Put Off by Food Depending on Plateware Color

The color of the plate food is served on influences taste perception, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 30, 2022·6 min read

Suffering From a Smell Disorder? Eat Chili, Menthol and Rapeseed Oil

Olfactory dysfunction can have both physical and social consequences, in addition to influencing food intake and weight. Researchers say foods that stimulate other chemical senses when consumed, such as chili or menthol, can improve life quality for those with olfactory dysfunction.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 14, 2022·3 min read

Do Our Genes Determine What We Eat?

Taste-related genes may play a significant role in determining personal food and diet choices, and could also have an impact on cardiometabolic health.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 28, 2021·4 min read

Pulling Wisdom Teeth Can Improve Long-Term Taste Function

Removing the wisdom teeth can improve a person's taste perception by up to ten percent.

Brain Cancer Featured Neuroscience

·June 25, 2021·6 min read

Cancer Survivors’ Tongues Less Sensitive to Tastes Than Those of Healthy Peers

Changes in taste perception can for years following chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments for cancer, a new study reports. Cancer survivors reported less sensitivity to bitter, sweet, and salty tastes compared to those who never received a cancer diagnosis. Taste buds on the tip of the tongue are most affected.