5 Senses Choice

Wheel
By: Adie May
D. Comparison of Human
and Dog Gustatory
Abilities
Human
The human gustatory system indicates whether
food should be ingested. Once in the mouth, the
chemical components of food interact with
receptors on the taste buds in the tongue.
Information about the temperature and texture
of food is transferred from the mouth by somatic
sensory receptors. The tongue has taste buds all
over it’s surface and has five different main
tastes: salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and umami.
The taste cells provide information about the
food’s identity, concentration, and pleasant or
unpleasant quality. The olfactory senses are also
involved as many scents are mentally associated
with the taste of foods.This information also
prepares the gastrointestinal system to receive
food by causing salivation, swallowing, or
potentially gagging. The primary gustatory
cortex is a brain structure responsible for the
perception of taste.
Dog
The dog gustatory system is quite similar to
one of a human; however, humans are much
more sensitive to taste as they have 9000
taste buds compared to dogs with only 1700
taste buds. Their taste buds are also located
primarily near the back of the tongue. The
taste receptors of dogs respond to the same
kind of chemicals that trigger human taste
sensations. As humans have the 5 main taste
receptors of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and
savory, dogs also have specific taste receptors
that are tuned for meats, fats and meat
related chemicals. Dogs will tend to prefer the
taste of things that contain meat or flavours
extracted from meat. In dogs, taste is strongly
associated with smell, and these olfactory and
gustatory receptors send signals up to the
brain to process the taste of the food.
Human Dog
Taste Impairments

More than 200,000 people a year develop problems with their ability to taste or smell, whether
they are able to recognize it or not.

Common taste disorders include…

➔ Phantom Taste Perception: a lingering taste of food even though there is nothing in the
mouth.
➔ Hypogeusia: reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami
➔ Ageusia: loss of ability to detect any tastes
➔ Dysgeusia: a condition in which a foul, salty, rancid, or metallic taste sensation persists in
the mouth.
 F. Careers associated
with the 4 Special Senses
Audiologist (hearing)
Job Description - Audiologists are experts in providing services in the prevention,
diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing and balance disorders. Clinical
audiologists work in a variety of settings and can specialize in pediatrics, geriatrics,
balance, cochlear implants, hearing aids, tinnitus, and auditory processing among other
issues.
Training - Audiologists must earn a doctoral degree from a program accredited by the
Council on Academic Accreditation and get a passing score on a national examination. In
almost all states, a current license in audiology or speech-language pathology is also
required to practice.
Financial reward - Average salary: $61,000 - $96,000
Living - best paying cities for audiologists are…
● Lake County, Illinois
● Vallejo, California
● Riverside, California
● Portland, Oregon
● San Francisco, California
Ophthalmologist (vision)
Job Description - A medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. They diagnose
and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery and prescribe and fit eyeglasses and
contact lenses to correct vision problems. Many ophthalmologists are involved in scientific
research on the causes and cures for eye diseases and vision disorders.
Training - 12 to 13 years of training and education, some require a fellowship in a
specialized area.
Financial reward - Average US salary is $211,290 a year; however, Ophthalmologists can
make up to over $300,000 a year
Living - best paying cities for ophthalmologists are…
● Bascom Palmer Eye Institute - University of Miami Hospital and Clinic -
Miami, Florida
● Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
● Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins Hospital - Baltimore, Maryland
● Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital -
Boston, Massachusetts
Chef (taste)
Job Description -
● Monitor freshness of food and ingredients
● Supervise and organize activities of other workers in the kitchen
● Develop recipes and presentation of the food
● Ensure uniform serving sizes and quality of meals
Training - Chefs endure training through a school or an apprenticeship approved by the
American Culinary Federation (ACF). These programs take 1-3 years to complete.
Financial Reward - average US salary is $41,500 a year
Living - best paying cities for chef’s are…
● Naples, Florida
● Atlantic City, New Jersey
● Las Vegas, Nevada
● Napa, California
● Salinas, California
Aromatherapist (smell)
Job Description - Aromatherapists treat a variety of physical conditions, illnesses and
psychological disorders with essential aromatic oils that are extracted from flowers, trees, spices,
fruits, or herbs. They identify the appropriate essential oils, create blends of oils, apply oils (usually
with therapeutic massage), and help with patient treatment.

Training - There are courses available in aromatherapy at a range of levels, suitable for a variety
of ages. Courses that meet the national occupational standards for aromatherapy typically take
around nine months. There are also foundation degrees and degrees that cover aromatherapy and
there are some courses at level 2 and 3 suitable for those aged 16 and 17, which may also cover
beauty therapy.

Financial Reward - $25,000 to $45,000 per year

Living - best places to live for aromatherapists…

● New York
● Massachusetts
● Maryland
● California
● Nebraska