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Lateral hypothalamic lesions impair flavour‐nutrient and flavour‐toxin trace learning in rats
Author(s) -
Touzani Khalid,
Sclafani Anthony
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.02404.x
Subject(s) - flavour , ibotenic acid , maltodextrin , lateral hypothalamus , chemistry , saccharin , psychology , medicine , endocrinology , taste , neuroscience , hypothalamus , food science , central nervous system , organic chemistry , spray drying
Food‐restricted rats with ibotenic acid lesions of the lateral hypothalamus (LHx) learned to prefer a flavour paired with concurrent intragastric (i.g.) infusions of maltodextrin, although their preference was weaker than that displayed by sham controls. Unlike controls, the LHx rats failed to acquire a flavour preference when the i.g. maltodextrin infusion was delayed by 15 min. The same rats learned to avoid flavours paired with i.g. lactose or lithium chloride over short delays (15–30 min), but were impaired, relative to controls, at a long conditioned–unconditioned stimuli delay (2 h). These data indicate that the LH is critical for the formation of flavour‐postingestive consequence learning over a delay, particularly with nutrient reinforcement. Lateral hypothalamus lesions might specifically impair the processing of nutrient‐generated unconditioned stimuli and, more generally, could interfere with the maintenance of flavour memories.