Soda sharp or spicy? You might think not, but your body thinks it does. Carbonated soft drinks activate the pain sensors in the nose in the same way as, for example, mustard.
Everyone knows the painful feeling when you swallow soda a little too quickly † It was just not yet known what exactly caused those painful sensations... Researchers at the University of South California have now discovered that the same cell that causes pain in mustard is also responsible for the stinging sensation of soda † This cell, the so-called TRPA1 , reacts to the gas released in the drink.
The researchers also discovered that the carbon dioxide causes two different sensations:it makes things sour and it gives a burning feeling † This is due to nerves that respond to pain, pressure, and temperature in the nose and mouth.
The research is published in the Journal of Neuroscience †
