The gustatory cortex is the area of the brain that allows people to perceive tastes, such as this ice cream sundae.
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Gustatory Cortex: Location
The gustatory cortex is located in cerebral cortex, which is the outer part of the brain. The gustatory cortex is made up of two small substructures that are found in two different lobes of the brain. These substructures are the anterior insula, located on the insular lobe, and the frontal operculum, on the frontal lobe. The insular lobe is found deep within the cerebral cortex, located under the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain, directly behind the forehead.
The gustatory cortex is found on both the frontal and insular lobes. The insular lobe is located deep in the brain, under the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes.
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Gustatory Cortex: Function
As mentioned earlier, the gustatory cortex functions to give a person the perception of taste. The gustatory cortex works with the taste buds to create the taste sensation. The tongue is covered with taste buds, and taste buds in different areas of the tongue sense different types of flavors. For example, the taste buds for sweet tastes are located mostly near the tip of the tongue, while taste buds for bitter tastes are located near the back of the tongue.
There are a total of five different types of flavors, or tastes:
- Sweet
- Salty
- Bitter
- Sour
- Savory, or umani
Taste buds for sweet tastes, shown by the red dots, are located mostly at the tip of the tongue.
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When a person eats a particular food, the food comes in contact with these different types of taste buds. For example, when the taste buds located at the front of the tongue sense something that is sweet, like candy, it will send an electrical impulse to the gustatory cortex of the brain. Once the brain receives this electrical impulse, it will cause the person to perceive the sweet taste. This same process occurs with all the various types and combinations of flavors and tastes.
Lesson Summary
The gustatory cortex is the area of the brain responsible for the sensation of taste. The gustatory cortex is made up of two smaller substructures, the anterior insula and the frontal operculum. These substructures are found in the insular and the frontal lobes of the brain.
The gustatory cortex works with the taste buds on the tongue to create the perception of taste. Taste buds located on different parts of the tongue are used to sense different types of tastes. Once food comes in contact with the taste buds, the tongue will send an electrical impulse to the gustatory cortex, which then gives the person the sense of taste.
