Myth: A Person’s Tongue Has Specific Zones for Each Taste

The notion that the tongue has defined taste zones—sweet, sour, salty, and bitter—is widely taught, leading to diagrams showing taste regions.

All taste buds detect multiple tastes, though some areas might be more sensitive. Sensory studies show that taste buds across the tongue detect a range of flavors, debunking the "taste map" myth. The concept originated from a misinterpretation of early taste research.