Taste Detection Essay

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Introduction: Numerous people around the world indulge in sugary treats and drinks everyday; however, at times the amount of sugary snacks is over-consumed by many individuals (Margolskee, 2011). As a result, individuals who have a high intake of sugary foods increase the level of glucose in their blood; hence, increasing the chance for these individuals to develop diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2013). A study investigated by Khobragade, Wakode, and Kale (2012), tested the threshold of glucose detection in diabetic and non-diabetics. It illustrated how those with diabetes had a lower sensitivity to glucose taste detection compared to those who did not have diabetes (Khobragade, Wakode, & Kale, 2012). Thus, the purpose of our study is to investigate what the absolute threshold for detecting a sweet taste is. To measure the taste detection of sweetness we used the classic psychophysical method of limits for taste detection. In addition, the specific aspect of perception tested is taste of sweetness in humans, which is apart of the gustatory system. To predict the value of threshold for detecting a sweet taste, we looked through some studies that have shown there is a range from 0.012M to 0.037 for the absolute threshold of detecting sucrose (Pfaffmann et al., 1959). For example, in one study it indicated that the absolute threshold of sugar was 0.012M (Richter, C. P. & Campbell, K. H, 1940). Methods: In order to determine the absolute threshold detection for sucrose, we attained it by using the classic psychophysical methods of limits for taste detection. We needed to prepare all solutions before the day of the experiment. In this study we prepared 9 different intensities of sucrose concentrations—0.0078M, 0.0156M, 0.023M, 0.031M, 0.0390M, 0.047M, 0.054M, 0.062M, and 0.078M. These intensities were achieved by first measuring out the grams of sugars that

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