what exactly is taste? Just like vibration or light, what does a thing have or lack to determine taste and how do we process it?

Question

what exactly is taste? Just like vibration or light, what does a thing have or lack to determine taste and how do we process it?

In: 111

Answer 1

Chemical receptors.

The classic analogy is the “lock and key” image. The key is a chemical from your food, and the lock is a chemical receptor on your taste buds. When the flavor chemical finds the right “lock”, it connects and turns a “switch”; a small nerve impulse goes to the brain to indicate which receptor was activated.

We have a lot of different types of receptors in our taste buds, like sweet or salty, and the combination they’re activated in tells the brain what you’re tasting. You have similar receptors in your nose for scent, and the brain uses those to help identify whatever you put in your mouth.