Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Bitter substances refer to taste stimuli that activate specific taste receptors on the tongue, resulting in a bitter taste sensation. These substances are often associated with negative reactions due to their unpleasant taste.
Related terms
Taste buds: Tiny sensory organs on our tongues that detect different tastes including bitterness.
Gustatory system: The sensory system responsible for processing taste information from our tongues to our brains.
Classical conditioning: A learning process where we associate a neutral stimulus (like the bitterness of coffee) with a naturally occurring stimulus (like the caffeine buzz), leading to a conditioned response (developing an acquired taste for coffee).