Gustatory audition, pronounced ɡʌ.stə.tɔːr.i ɔːˈdɪʃ.(ə)n, refers to the sense of taste, but it is also used to describe the ability to identify flavors by their smell or aroma. The spelling of this word may seem unusual, as it combines gustatory, meaning related to taste, with audition, meaning related to hearing. However, this combination accurately reflects the connection between the sense of taste and the perception of sound in identifying flavors. The IPA phonetic transcription helps to clarify the pronunciation and spelling of this unique and fascinating term.
Gustatory audition is a term that combines elements of both gustation and audition to describe a phenomenon in which individuals experience auditory sensations associated with taste perception. It refers to the rare occurrence in which sounds or music can evoke distinct taste sensations in an individual.
Gustation refers to the sense of taste, involving the detection and perception of the various flavors such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. On the other hand, audition is the sense of hearing, enabling individuals to perceive sound and differentiate between various frequencies and intensities.
In gustatory audition, individuals may experience a cross-modal sensory perception in which specific sounds or musical notes trigger the perception of certain tastes. For example, someone may hear a certain musical note and simultaneously perceive the taste of strawberries. This sensory phenomenon can vary greatly among individuals, as each person's perception and interpretation of sounds differ.
Although gustatory audition is relatively rare and not fully understood, it is believed to occur due to neurological cross-activation between gustatory and auditory centers in the brain. Some individuals may possess heightened neural connections between these areas, leading to a greater likelihood of experiencing gustatory audition.
While gustatory audition is still an area of ongoing research, it serves as an intriguing example of the complexity of sensory perception and the potential interconnectedness between our senses.
A form of synesthesia in which a sensation of taste is noted when certain sounds are heard.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "gustatory audition" is a combination of two separate words, each with its own etymology:
1. Gustatory:
The word "gustatory" originates from the Latin term "gustare", meaning "to taste". The Latin word "gustare" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*gʰews-", which meant "to taste" or "to choose food". This root is further related to words in other Indo-European languages like Sanskrit "jushate" and Greek "geuomai", both meaning "to taste". Over time, "gustatory" entered the English language in the early 19th century, referring to anything related to taste or the sense of taste.
2. Audition:
"Audition" traces its origins to the Latin word "audītio" and the verb "audire", meaning "to hear".