Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Tasting refers to the sensory experience of perceiving flavors through the mouth and taste buds. It involves detecting and distinguishing different tastes, such as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
Taste buds are small sensory organs located on the papillae of our tongues. They contain specialized cells that detect different flavors and send signals to the brain.
Sensory adaptation refers to a decrease in sensitivity or responsiveness to a constant or repetitive stimulus over time. In terms of tasting, it explains why we may become less sensitive to a particular taste after prolonged exposure to it.