When it comes to carbohydrate, it has been assumed that only mono- and disaccharides, but not oligo- and polysaccharides, can be tasted. However, because of its importance in the human diet, oral detection of starch or its hydrolysis products would be beneficial. The main goal of this study was to...
Due to a combination of misinterpretation and misleading illustration, the premise of a “tongue map”, which indicated that sweetness could only be detected at the front of the tongue and bitterness could only be detected on the back, became wide spread. In fact, all taste qualities can be detected on...
A majority of human caloric intake is in the form of complex carbohydrates, which have been assumed to be tasteless. However, there is considerable evidence from rat and human studies to support the existence of a secondary carbohydrate taste receptor that detects glucose polymers. Psychophysical studies in our lab suggest...