Tongue map

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Tongue map

The tongue map is a common misconception that different sections of the tongue are exclusively responsible for different basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. This idea was widely propagated in the early 20th century but has since been debunked by modern research in gustatory science.

History

The concept of the tongue map originated from a misinterpretation of a 1901 paper by German scientist David P. Hänig. Hänig's research suggested that different parts of the tongue had varying sensitivity to the four basic tastes, but it did not claim that each taste could only be detected by a specific region. The tongue map was further popularized by Edwin G. Boring in a 1942 book, which misrepresented Hänig's findings.

Modern Understanding

Contemporary research has shown that all taste sensations can be detected by all parts of the tongue, although some regions may be slightly more sensitive to certain tastes. The taste buds, which are the sensory organs responsible for detecting taste, are distributed across the tongue and contain receptors for all five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Taste Buds and Receptors

Taste buds are located within the papillae on the tongue's surface. Each taste bud contains 50-100 taste receptor cells, which can detect multiple types of taste stimuli. The five basic tastes are detected by specific receptors:

• Sweet: Detected by T1R2 and T1R3 receptors.
• Sour: Detected by PKD2L1 receptors.
• Salty: Detected by ENaC receptors.
• Bitter: Detected by T2R receptors.
• Umami: Detected by T1R1 and T1R3 receptors.

Debunking the Myth

Studies using modern techniques such as electrophysiology and functional MRI have demonstrated that the tongue does not have distinct regions for each taste. Instead, taste perception is a complex process involving the entire tongue and other parts of the oral cavity, as well as the brain.

Implications

The debunking of the tongue map myth has important implications for the fields of nutrition, medicine, and culinary arts. Understanding that all parts of the tongue can detect all tastes helps in developing better strategies for taste disorder treatments and enhancing flavor experiences in food.

See Also

• Gustatory system
• Taste bud
• Papillae
• Taste receptor
• Umami
• Taste disorder