Lesson plan
Supertaster
Supertasters are individuals whose sense of taste for certain flavors and foods is far more sensitive than the average person. The term originated with experimental psychologist Linda Bartoshuk and is not the result of response bias or a scaling artifact but appears to have an anatomical or biological basis. Over the past two decades, the study of many differences in oral sensation has grown to encompass the idea of supertasting. Originally identified as the heightened response to the suprathreshold bitterness of concentrated propylthiouracil (PROP), the contemporary view supports that supertasting encompasses an elevated response to all taste qualities.
Article summary
Supertasters are individuals whose sense of taste for certain flavors and foods is far more sensitive than the average person. The term originated with experimental psychologist Linda Bartoshuk and is not the result of response bias or a scaling artifact but appears to have an anatomical or biological basis. Over the past two decades, the study of many differences in oral sensation has grown to encompass the idea of supertasting. Originally identified as the heightened response to the suprathreshold bitterness of concentrated propylthiouracil (PROP), the contemporary view supports that supertasting encompasses an elevated response to all taste qualities.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.