Szechuan pepper taps at nerve fibers

The spice makes lips tingle at 50 beats per second

peppers

RATTLE MY LIPS  Vibration-sensing nerve fibers carry the tingle of Szechuan peppers, a new study finds.

YinLiu/iStockphoto

As many Asian chefs know, a dash of Szechuan peppers delivers a lip-rattling experience. This fizzy, tingly sensation comes courtesy of specialized nerve fibers that detect physical vibrations, a new study suggests.