Focus – How We Taste
How We're Wired
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What Makes Spicy Food?
The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve that serves eyes, nose and mouth. It originates from just behind the ear - it's the one that rings bells when you have too much wasabi. Capsaicin in a chilli irritates the trigeminal nerves which causes local oral burning. You feel as though your tongue is actually on fire but it isn't. So I absolutely love spicy food. Do we know why some people love it and some people don't?
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