Taste

Taste Buds

• located on the tongue, throat and roof of mouth.

• sensitive to sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury.

Taste Cells

• sensory cells within the taste buds which have receptors that interact with chemicals in food and generate electrical signals.

Transmission via Cranial Nerves

• once the taste receptors are stimulated, they send electrical signals to the brain through 3 cranial nerves: facial nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, and vagus nerve.

Synapse in the Brainstem

• the signals travel from the taste buds through the nerves to the medulla oblongata

Relay to the Thalamus

• the taste information is then relayed to the thalamus, which acts as a relay station for sensory information.

Perception in the Gustatory Cortex

• from the thalamus, taste signals are sent to the gustatory cortex.

• this area is responsible for the conscious perception of taste

Integration with Other Sensory Information

• taste perception is often integrated with other sensory modalities such as smell and texture.