GabyThis study also revealed that a person’s taste sensations depend on their unique tongue prints.
The analysis of 3D images conducted by AI demonstrated the uniqueness of the ridges and grooves of human tongues. Long, slippery, wide, bumpy – our tongues can be even more individual than one might imagine. So, perhaps in the future, people could be identified by the specificity of this organ.
The research is likely to shed light on the diversity of our food preferences and will also help develop healthy and tasty alternatives to fatty and sugary foods.
What the researchers reported.
Our tongue reaches an average of 10 centimeters, of which only two-thirds are visible. This complex organ is covered with hundreds of tiny papillae. Some of them are connected to our taste receptors, while others allow the tongue to sense texture, friction, lubrication, and touch.
These sensory functions are crucial for manipulating and transporting food and liquid in the mouth, noted Rayna Andreeva, a graduate student and the lead researcher.
They can also influence our psychological reactions to food. For example, the extent to which we are satisfied after a meal. While the taste function of taste buds is well studied, much less is known about the differences in their shapes, sizes, and patterns among different people.
How AI has assisted scientists
At the request of the team, computer models of artificial intelligence were trained on thousands of microscopic scans of individual papillae taken from silicone molds of the tongues of 15 people. The program mapped the size of the papillae, their features, and their locations on the surface of the tongues, the publication reported. The Guardian .
Researchers have found that a single papilla can determine a person’s age and gender with moderate accuracy – up to 67-75 percent. AI was even able to identify a specific person among 15 participants with approximately a 48 percent probability.
Thus, scientists have obtained the first evidence that the taste buds on the tongue can serve as unique identifiers. However, to confirm these results, the team requires further research with a larger number of participants.
“We were surprised to see how unique these micron features are for each individual,” noted Professor Rick Sarkar from the University of Edinburgh.
How to apply these results in practice
Studying how the distribution of papillae varies among different people will help understand why we prefer some foods over others, scientists explained. The characteristics of tongues, according to the team, also correlate with various diseases.
The research will also be useful for the development of personalized food products. As Professor Sakar said, “Imagine being able to create products tailored to the needs of specific individuals and vulnerable groups, thus ensuring they can receive proper nutrition while enjoying their food.” And all of this is thanks to the uniqueness of human languages.
For example, according to the scientist, a better understanding of the physical mechanisms that occur when different people taste chocolate could help in creating food alternatives that offer similar sensations but with lower calorie content.
The conclusions of the study were published by the journal Scientific Reports.
