How do pain-killing drugs work?
Pain-killing drugs, or analgesics, work in two different ways. Some drugs, such as aspirin, work by preventing the sensation of pain from reaching the brain. More powerful pain-killing drugs prevent the brain from reacting to the nerve impulses that it receives from pain receptors.
What is a phantom limb?
When a damaged limb has to be removed surgically, a person may feel as though the limb is still attached to the body. This happens because the nerves that once led from the limb are still in place. They keep producing nerve impulses that trick the brain into thinking that the limb is still part of the body.
How do we taste things?
Most of the sense of taste takes place on the tongue. The tongue is covered with small bumps, called taste buds that are grouped together in areas with different functions. These taste buds react to some simple tastes and pass messages to the brain. Taste buds on the tip of the tongue detect sweet tastes, and those at the back of the tongue detect bitter taste (the ‘aftertaste’ you get after swallowing something bitter). Groups of taste buds at the side of the tongue measure sour and salty tastes. The taste of any food is a combination of these four basic tastes. You have about 10,000 taste buds on your tongue. You will gradually lose them as you grow older, which is one reason why elderly people may no longer enjoy their food so much.
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