REMINDER: The responses should be an attempt to clarify and/or expand on the above concepts rather than to criticize the answers. Please indicate your sources as well.  I will be grading for quality of the responses and citation (SEE RUBRIC).

 DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Part 1: For this exercise, a taste test, you will need a partner (spouse, children, friend etc…). Each of you will get two foods form these categories below.Please do not let each other know which foods you bought. It is ok if you bought the same foods, as long as you don't know before hand.

 (a) Potato chips, or peanuts, chocolate, Doritos etc...

 (b) Orange segments or thin slices of apple or grapes etc...

 (c) Chocolate chips cookies or Oreos or ginger snaps etc...

 (d) Gummy bears or gelatin sweets (eg. Gum drops) etc..

1. Have your volunteer close his or her eyes, open his or her mouth and pinch his or her nose

 2. Gently place one of the above food items on the tongue of your partner

 3. Ask the person to determine the type of food he or she has in his or her mouth without chewing or moving it around in their mouth (don’t give the person any feedback). Record observation

4. Now instruct your partner to chew and then try to identify the food mouth (don’t give your partner any feedback). Record observation

5. Have your partner un-pinch his or her nose and then try to identify the food again (don’t give your partner any feed back). Record observation

 6. Please do not give your partner any feedback until you have repeated the taste test with at least a different food

 7. Now have your partner do the same tests on you. Ask him or her to observe and record your responses like you did.

Based on your understanding of the role of smell and texture in the sense of taste, explain the physiology behind yours and your partner’s observations