Final answer:
The centre of the tongue is associated with taste and is covered with fungiform papillae that contain taste buds, which are responsible for sensing chemicals in food.
Step-by-step explanation:
The element associated with the centre of the tongue pertains to the gustatory system responsible for taste sensation. The central region of the tongue is covered by the fungiform papillae, which are mushroom-shaped structures that contain taste buds. These taste buds have specialized gustatory receptor cells that respond to chemical stimuli dissolved in saliva.
Unlike the filiform papillae that are found on the tongue and have touch receptors, the fungiform papillae are primarily associated with the sense of taste. The papillae sense chemicals in food and send information to the brain via cranial nerves. Therefore, when we discuss the element associated with the centre of the tongue, we refer to the taste buds housed within the fungiform papillae that enable us to perceive different flavors.