Monday, November 5, 2007

What do animals taste?

A peculiar conversation triggered this thought. (aren't those the best?)

Those of you that did science would've learned that different parts of our tongue register different tastes; Bitter, sweet, salty etc

We humans have labeled these tastes as such, so sweet tastes... sweet.

Do animals register the same tastes as we do? Is sweet to a dog the same as us? When mosquitoes suck our blood, does it taste like iron to them like it does us?

Or is it 'sweet' to them?...

2 comments:

LI LAINE OOI said...

Hah, interesting thought there. I think humans link the sensory perception of taste to a memory (good or bad) so if you taste something yucky, it triggers a part of your brain that remembers that it was yucky before. As for new tastes, your brain learns whether or not you like it.

Considering animals like dogs and cats do have tastebuds similar to ours, I think its possible they can remember taste. How else do you explain some dogs only eating certain brands of dog food? I duno. My penny for your thought.

Hugin said...

I didn't know dogs/cats have similar taste buds to ours! Trust a PHD girl to know that!! ;)

You've raised another thought. I'm agreeable with your point on taste being linked to memory, but there would need to be a 'base' preference right?

As in, some people are genetically predisposed to like/dislike a flavour?

Hm..