FoundationalConceptsNeuroscience

; Somatosensory

Ss cortex

Thalamus Insula

Amygdala

Hypothalamus

Nucleus solitarius

Cranial nerves 7,9,10

Figure 13.2. A coronal or frontal slice through the brain showing neural path-

ways associated with taste. The insula is a region of the cerebral cortex deep

within the lateral sulcus, at the juncture of the parietal and temporal lobes.

A famous exemplar of such spicy hotness is the chili plant, mostly
the species Capsicum annuum, native to South America (Fig. 13.3).
No doubt the culinary properties of this plant have been much ap-
preciated by indigenous peoples of South America for millennia, and
many varieties of chili having varying flavors and different degrees of
hotness have been developed over the centuries: cayenne, jalapeno, pi-
mento, habanero, and so forth.
Although chili now features prominently in the cuisines of
countries all over the world, it was unknown outside of the Americas
before the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Like tobacco, its power-
ful qualities were rapidly embraced worldwide. Also like tobacco, it is