What is the term for the sensation of taste?

The sensation of taste is known as gustation. This term specifically refers to the process by which our taste buds on the tongue detect flavors such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Gustation is an essential part of our sensory experience, influencing not only how we perceive food but also our desire to eat and enjoy different flavors.

Olfaction, on the other hand, pertains to the sense of smell, which is closely related but distinctly different from taste. Kinesthesis refers to the sense of the position and movement of our body parts, allowing us to sense where our limbs are in space without relying on vision. The vestibular sense relates to balance and spatial orientation, helping us maintain our balance and understand our body's position with respect to gravity. Understanding these distinctions helps to clarify why gustation is the correct term for the sensation of taste.