Barry G. Green (background) looks on while his former research assistant, Alberto Cruz, conducts a thermal taste experiment on Deborah Kovi, a research assistant at the John B. Pierce Laboratory.

Study shows tongue's temperature affects taste

Manipulating the tongue's temperature can result in the same salty, sweet or sour taste caused by sugars, acids or other chemicals, according to a Yale study that furthers understanding of the physiology of taste. "We've discovered that specific tastes can be produced by temperature stimulation, just as certain chemicals can evoke only certain taste qualities," says Barry G. Green, principal investigator on the study, which will appear in the Feb. 24 issue of Nature. Green and his colleagues call this temperature stimulation of taste "thermal taste." It has been known since the first electrical recordings of taste nerves that they are sensitive to temperature as well as to chemicals, but it was not known how the brain interprets this thermal stimulation. Thermal taste shows that it is interpreted as taste, not temperature, say the researchers. The close relationship between temperature and taste qualities suggests receptors in the tongue that respond to chemicals have certain properties that make them vulnerable to specific kinds of temperature change, explain the scientists. This information may provide clues to understanding the nature of these receptor processes. Thermal taste is different on different parts of the tongue, explains Green, indicating that taste receptors that are sensitive to temperature are not uniformly distributed throughout the tongue. For example, sweetness is more readily perceived on the tip, sourness on the side and bitterness in the back, he says. Not everyone experiences thermal taste, notes Green. About two out of every three people tested in the study experienced at least one taste quality -- sweetness is the most common thermal taste and saltiness is the least common. Green notes that these individual differences are consistent with other evidence that taste physiology and taste experiences vary substantially from person to person. "Thermal taste probably does not affect the taste of most foods and beverages because the temperature conditions that produce it are rarely encountered during eating or drinking, and when they are, the chemical tastes of foods and beverages tend to mask thermal tastes," Green says. "However, it is possible that frozen desserts may taste somewhat different to individuals sensitive to cold-induced sensations of thermal sourness and saltiness." Individuals sensitive to salt will notice that an ice cube touched to the very tip of the tongue for a few seconds will begin to taste salty, explains Green. Unfortunately, he adds, saltiness is the least common of the thermal tastes, and this is not a reliable way to demonstrate the phenomenon. Green's research grew out of an accidental observation made while preparing to study the temperature sensitivity of the tongue. As his then-research assistant, Alberto Cruz, was experimenting with a small thermal stimulator on his own tongue, he noticed that cooling the tongue tip and then rewarming it caused a weak sweet taste. "We conducted informal tests on each other to confirm his observation," Green says. "While doing so, we noticed a sour taste when the tongue tip was cooled to about 15°C below normal mouth temperature, and a salty taste when it was cooled to about 25°C below mouth temperature. This paper reports formal experiments we conducted to quantify the phenomenon and to study its relationship to chemical taste." -- By Karen Peart T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Yale to construct $176 million building for medical research and education Hockey player is humanitarian outside the rink Scientist invents device for at-home testing of glaucoma Professor brings presidential expertise to PBS series Test reveals voters' unconscious presidential preferences Executive decries 'disturbing trends' in the media Writer describes her passion for her craft at master's tea Study shows tongue's temperature affects taste Alumna extols virtues of studying math Seminar seeks to spark interest on Latino health issues Yale surgeon is using a new, less-invasive treatment for easing carpal tunnel syndrome Veteran sports writers help Yale journalists hone their craft Law School colloquium to explore welfare 'reform' Researchers discover role of 'duet' in cell function Musical Break Neuroscientist is honored by Danish university Dr. Sherwin Nuland will discuss early myths about the body at book signing A very moving work of art Sports Scoreboard In the News Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus| Calendar of Events|Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page