The traditional map of taste zones on the tongue is a scientific myth
The widely taught map of the tongue, which claims different areas are responsible for specific tastes, is a scientific myth debunked by modern research.
Contrary to the 20th-century diagrams found in many textbooks, every taste bud on the tongue is capable of detecting all five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. The myth originated from a 1901 paper by David Hänig that was mistranslated, leading people to believe that the back of the tongue only sensed bitterness.
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