Thank you for sending such an interestingquestion! You may be surprised to hear that arelated question captured the interest ofscientists working at the Scripps Institute in SanDiego. Who would have thought that chewing gumwould be so thought provoking?! Actually,Big Red chewing gum, Atomic Fire Balls (mypersonal favorite), and some types of toothpastesand mouthwashes all produce the same kind ofburning sensation that you describe (though mostpeople usually experience this sensation in theirmouths). Do you have any idea what ingredient is shared by all of these products?
Theanswer lies in the bark of evergreen trees that are native to Sri Lanka, a tiny island just off the coast of India. Certain portions of their bark are dried, ground into a fine powder and used as a spice that you probably know as cinnamon. Other parts of the bark are used to extract oil. For the trees, this oil prevents them from being invaded and damaged by fungi. For people, the oil is used to flavor a variety of products, including chewing gum and Atomic Fire Balls (did I mention that these are my personal favorite?).
The main ingredient of the oil -- and the one that produces a burning sensation -- is called cinnamic aldehyde. Because powdered cinnamon contains very small amounts of cinnamic aldehyde, it usually doesn't give your mouth or skin a burning sensation. On the other hand, cinnamon oil contains amounts of cinnamic aldehyde large enough to cause the burning sensation that you experienced.
So how can the cinnamic aldehyde in Big Red chewing gum make your mouth and skin feel like they're on fire (after all, chewing gum is certainly not hot to the touch)?
This is precisely the kind of question thatscientists at the Scripps Institute are trying tounravel. Our ability to perceive temperature --say, when we put our hand close to a hot stove orwhen we grab an ice cube tray, is controlled bynerve cells responsible for sensing hot and cold. These nerve cells have endings embedded veryclose to the surface of our skin (and also insidethe linings of our mouth). When we encountersomething in our environment that is hot,specialized sensor molecules on the nerve endingsare activated. Once activated, a "hot" signal istransmitted through our spinal cords andeventually into our brains.
As you probably guessed, other sensor molecules are "tuned" to respond to cold temperatures and allow our brains to perceive certain things in our environment as "cold". Oddly enough, certain compounds, like the cinnamic aldehyde in Big Red chewing gum, activate the same kinds of nerve sensors that detect cold! Why then do we perceive a burning sensation when we contact the cinnamic aldehyde contained in these types of products. It seems that these same cold receptors also convey sensations of pain that our brains sometimes mistake for heat. Case in point: Some unfortunate Artic travelers experience suchextremes in cold that they report the sensation ofburning pain. Apparently cinnamic aldehyde worksthe same way.
Some people are more sensitive to cinnamic aldehyde than others. Your chewing gum wrapper probably contained some cinnamic aldehyde that contacted your skin, activated your cold sensors, and made you feel a burning sensation! Blame it on our brains!
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I appreciate your curiosity in the fascinating world of sensory perception, specifically regarding the burning sensation caused by certain products like Big Red chewing gum, Atomic Fire Balls, and some toothpaste and mouthwashes. My enthusiasm for this topic stems from a deep understanding of the underlying science.
Let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
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Cinnamic Aldehyde:
- Found in the bark of evergreen trees native to Sri Lanka, particularly in cinnamon.
- Main component responsible for the burning sensation in products like Big Red chewing gum and Atomic Fire Balls.
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Source of Cinnamic Aldehyde:
- Extracted from certain portions of the bark of evergreen trees, dried, ground into a fine powder, and used as a spice, commonly known as cinnamon.
- Cinnamon oil is also derived from other parts of the bark, serving as a flavoring agent in various products.
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Sensory Perception and Nerve Cells:
- Our ability to perceive temperature is controlled by nerve cells responsible for sensing hot and cold.
- Nerve endings embedded close to the skin surface and inside the linings of the mouth play a crucial role in temperature perception.
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Activation of Nerve Sensors:
- Specialized sensor molecules on nerve endings are activated by encountering hot or cold stimuli in the environment.
- These sensor molecules transmit signals through spinal cords and eventually to the brain.
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Unusual Activation of Cold Sensors:
- Certain compounds, such as cinnamic aldehyde, activate the same nerve sensors that typically detect cold.
- Despite activating cold sensors, cinnamic aldehyde can induce a burning sensation.
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Perception of Pain and Cold:
- Cold receptors can convey sensations of pain that the brain may sometimes mistake for heat.
- In the case of cinnamic aldehyde, the activation of cold receptors results in a burning sensation due to the brain interpreting it as pain.
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Individual Sensitivity:
- Some individuals are more sensitive to cinnamic aldehyde than others.
- The burning sensation may vary based on personal sensitivity levels.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive explanation of how cinnamic aldehyde, found in products like chewing gum, can trick our sensory perception, leading to a burning sensation. The intricate interplay between nerve sensors, temperature perception, and individual sensitivity adds a layer of complexity to our understanding of how our brains interpret and respond to stimuli.
