Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Taste Buds and Receptors01:20

Taste Buds and Receptors

4.4K
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
4.4K
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

6.9K
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the...
6.9K
The Tongue and Taste Buds00:49

The Tongue and Taste Buds

40.3K
The surface of the tongue is covered with various small bumps called papillae, which either distribute what has been ingested (filiform papillae) or contain the sensory taste (or gustatory) receptor cells (fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae). Embedded within each taste-related papilla are the taste buds—clusters of 30 to 100 gustatory receptor cells.
40.3K
Gustation01:43

Gustation

51.7K
Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
51.7K
Conditioned Taste Aversion01:14

Conditioned Taste Aversion

473
Conditioned taste aversion, also known as sauce béarnaise syndrome, is a phenomenon in which an individual develops an aversion to a certain food taste following a negative experience, typically illness. This form of aversion is a type of classical conditioning in which the taste of the food (conditioned stimulus, CS) is associated with the experience of illness (unconditioned stimulus, UCS).
A notable characteristic of conditioned taste aversion is that it often requires only a single...
473
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

3.9K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
3.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same authorSame journal

Research in paediatric dentistry: the paradox of reviews without trials.

European journal of paediatric dentistry·2026
Same author

Correlation between children's oral health status and parents' oral health literacy: a cross-sectional study in a Spanish population.

European journal of paediatric dentistry·2026
Same author

Breastfeeding and craniofacial development: orthodontic prevention beginning at birth.

European journal of paediatric dentistry·2026
Same author

25th Anniversary of the European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.

European journal of paediatric dentistry·2025
Same author

Paediatric case of maxillary odontogenic myxoma.

European journal of paediatric dentistry·2025
Same author

SIOI Policy on Sugar Intake: Limiting Free Sugars from Earliest Days of Life to Prevent Caries, Specific Non-Communicable Diseases, and Tumors.

European journal of paediatric dentistry·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
09:17

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

Published on: July 16, 2016

18.1K

Taste development and prenatal prevention.

L Paglia1

  • 1Editor in Chief.

European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
|December 19, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fetal taste bud activation in the womb influences lifelong food preferences. A balanced maternal diet promotes diverse taste development, guiding healthier eating habits from gestation onwards.

More Related Videos

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

17.0K
Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test
08:52

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test

Published on: April 21, 2021

5.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
09:17

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults

Published on: July 16, 2016

18.1K
Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test
07:10

Taste Exam: A Brief and Validated Test

Published on: August 17, 2018

17.0K
Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test
08:52

Psychophysical Tracking Method to Assess Taste Detection Thresholds in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: The Taste Detection Threshold TDT Test

Published on: April 21, 2021

5.3K

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Fetal taste bud activation begins around 30 weeks gestation via amniotic fluid.
  • Maternal diet composition influences amniotic fluid, potentially shaping fetal taste receptors.
  • Early taste experiences contribute to gustatory sensory memory and future food preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the origins of food preferences starting in utero.
  • To understand the role of maternal diet in fetal taste development.
  • To highlight the importance of prenatal nutrition for establishing healthy eating habits.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on fetal sensory development and taste.
  • Analysis of the impact of amniotic fluid and maternal milk composition on taste preferences.
  • Exploration of genetic and evolutionary factors influencing taste perception.

Main Results:

  • Fetal taste bud activation is an initial step in developing gustatory memory.
  • Genetic factors and specific receptors (e.g., TAS1R gene polymorphism) influence sweet taste preference.
  • Evolutionary drives favor attraction to energy-rich (sweet, umami) foods, a trait persisting today.

Conclusions:

  • A balanced maternal diet is crucial for stimulating fetal taste and promoting varied food curiosity.
  • Prenatal and early life nutrition significantly impacts a child's food choices and lifelong eating patterns.
  • Paediatric dentists and parents play a key role in promoting healthy eating lifestyles from gestation through early childhood.