taste

n. the sense devoted to the detection of molecules dissolved in liquids (also called gustation), or the sensory experience resulting from perception of gustatory qualities. Dissolved molecules are delivered to the taste receptors—taste cells—on the tongue, soft palate, larynx, and pharynx. Of the proposed five primary tastes, three are dedicated to detecting nutrients: sweet (sugars), salty (sodium), and umami (proteins); and two are for protection: sour (from unripe or spoiled foods) and bitter (from toxins). Taste combines with smell, texture, and appearance to generate a sense of flavor.

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Psychology term of the day

January 26th 2025

congenital oculomotor apraxia

a condition, present at birth, in which a child is unable to fixate objects normally (see oculomotor apraxia). It is characterized by the absence of saccades and smooth-pursuit eye movements in the horizontal plane, but vertical eye movements are preserved: Children with this condition are often mistakenly thought to be blind. Between the ages of 4 and 6 months, they develop thrusting, horizontal head movements, sometimes blinking prominently or rubbing their eyelids when they attempt to change fixation. The cause of congenital oculomotor apraxia is unknown, but there is usually an improvement with age.