Specific receptor cells are specialized cells located on the tongue that detect and transmit signals for different taste qualities such as sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
Related terms
Taste buds: Small structures located within the papillae on the tongue that contain clusters of specific receptor cells.
Supertasters: Individuals who have an unusually high number of taste buds and are more sensitive to tastes.
Cross-adaptation: The phenomenon where exposure to one taste can temporarily decrease sensitivity to another taste.