Italy MUSE Exhibition Explores Sound Influence on Food Perception

The European Union is enhancing its satellite defenses by deploying additional satellites in low Earth orbit to counteract GPS signal interference, following a suspected Russian interference incident that affected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft. Concurrently, the MUSE science museum in Trento, northern Italy, is hosting an innovative exhibition called 'Food Sound' that explores how auditory cues, such as the crunch of an apple or the sizzle of a pan, influence appetite, flavor perception, and emotional response. The exhibit, rooted in neuroscience, guides visitors through interactive displays that demonstrate how brain processing of sound affects food preferences and choices. Patrizia Famà, director of the museum's Office of Public Programmes, emphasizes neuroscience's growing role in reshaping culinary understanding, similar to its impact on psychology and economics. The exhibition also highlights research by scientists like Massimiliano Zampini and Charles Spence, who showed that sound levels and frequencies can alter perceptions of food freshness and crispness. This multisensory approach is gaining attention from the food industry as a way to enhance consumer experience.