The effect of thalamic lesions on primate taste preference.
Taste preferences and aversions were examined before and after the placement of bilateral, electrophysiologically guided electrolytic lesions of the thalamic taste area in five Old World monkeys. The only consistent changes shown by all lesioned monkeys on the 30-min, single-bottle intake test were a significantly attenuated consumption of 0.003 M quinine hydrochloride and a significantly elevated intake of 0.1 M sodium chloride. These specific taste deficits are contrary to the global hypogeusia predicted on the basis of previous research. A revised definition of the boundaries of the gustatory thalamus is suggested and the merits of the thalamic monkey preparation are compared with those of the decerebrate rat model.
Reilly
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Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033, USA.
Pritchard
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TC
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004326:Drinking; D005518:Food Preferences; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000502:physiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*