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Taste is detected by sensory receptors (chemoreceptors) in our taste buds, which cover the tongue but are also found in the soft palate of the mouth and the throat.
The cranial nerves associated with taste are the glossopharyngeal (VII), facial (IX) and vagus (X) nerves. When the receptors in the taste buds are stimulated by food, impulses are sent along these nerves to the part of the brain where taste is perceived (in the parietal lobe)
The area of the tongue which is thought to be most sensitive to sweet tastes is the tip.
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DevinScientists describe five basic tastes: bitter, salty, sour, sweet, and umami that the tongue can detect, some people believe that there are areas of the tongue that detect these tastes - (the front tip of the human tongue for salty and sweet, the sides for sour things and the back of the tongue for bitter things). However many scientists now believe that the taste buds over the whole tongue are all involved.
It is important to note that the while the tongue is involve in the taste of things it is actually the scene of smell at the back of the nose that is the best detector for the more complete taste of the foods we eat. You can prove this by holding you nose while eating - food seems to have no taste when you do this.
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Where does your tongue generally detect sweet tastes?
Sweetness was previously believed to reside only at the tip, however newer research shows that taste occurs for all five sensations over the entire surface of the tongue.
What part of the tongue tastes the sweet jello?
Well, honey, the taste buds that detect sweetness are located on the tip of your tongue. So, when you're indulging in that sweet jello, make sure to give the tip of your tongue some credit for all the deliciousness it's experiencing. Just remember, it's not about the size of the taste bud, it's how you use it!
Why would a tongue not detect mild sweetness after eating foods with high sweetness?
After consuming high levels of sweetness, taste buds can become desensitized, leading to a reduced ability to detect mild sweetness. This phenomenon is known as sensory adaptation. Sensory adaptation occurs when taste receptors become less responsive to a constant stimulus, causing decreased sensitivity to that taste.
Which taste sensations could be lost after damage to the facial nerve?
Loss of taste sensations that could result from damage to the facial nerve include the inability to taste sweetness on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue due to dysfunction of the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve, which carries taste information. This can lead to a reduced ability to detect sweet flavors on that part of the tongue.
Is your tongue more sensitive to salty taste or sweet?
The human tongue is more sensitive to sweet tastes than salty tastes. This sensitivity is due to the presence of taste buds that are specialized for detecting sweetness.
