Glossary
Chemical Senses
Sensory systems, including taste and smell, that detect molecules of substances in the environment.
Example:
Both your ability to taste a sour lemon and smell smoke are functions of your chemical senses.
Five Main Tastes
The basic taste qualities detected by the tongue: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
Example:
A balanced meal might include elements that activate all five main tastes, from the sweetness of fruit to the umami of cooked meat.
Flavor
The complex perception of food that results from the combination of taste and smell, along with other sensory inputs like texture and temperature.
Example:
When you have a cold and your nose is stuffy, food often seems bland because your sense of smell isn't contributing to the full flavor experience.
Fungiform Papillae
The mushroom-shaped bumps on the tongue where taste buds are embedded.
Example:
If you look closely at your tongue, you can see the tiny fungiform papillae that contain your taste receptors.
Gustation
The sense of taste, which detects molecules of substances dissolved in saliva.
Example:
When you enjoy the sweet flavor of a chocolate bar, you are experiencing gustation.
Limbic System
A group of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and learning, which the sense of smell directly connects to.
Example:
The powerful connection between a familiar scent and a vivid memory is due to the olfactory bulb's direct pathway to the limbic system.
Olfaction
The sense of smell, which detects airborne molecules of substances.
Example:
The distinct aroma of freshly baked cookies is perceived through olfaction.
Olfactory Bulb
A brain structure located above the nasal cavity that receives information directly from olfactory receptor cells.
Example:
The scent of freshly cut grass travels from your nose directly to the olfactory bulb, which then processes the smell.
Taste Buds
Sensory organs located on the tongue and roof of the mouth that contain taste receptor cells.
Example:
The small bumps on your tongue, called fungiform papillae, house your taste buds, allowing you to detect different flavors.
Thalamus
A brain structure that acts as a sensory relay station, directing most sensory information to the appropriate cortical areas, though smell bypasses it.
Example:
Unlike sight or touch, the sense of smell is unique because its signals do not first pass through the thalamus before reaching the cortex.
Umami
A savory taste, often associated with protein-rich foods, recognized as one of the five basic tastes.
Example:
The rich, savory flavor of a mushroom broth is a classic example of umami.