Lithium-induced context aversion in rats as a model of anticipatory nausea in humans.
In three experiments, rats received injections of lithium chloride (LiCl) before being exposed to a distinctive context. In a subsequent test, rats given access to sucrose solution in this context consumed less than control subjects given sucrose in another context that had been paired with a saline injection (Experiment 1), or was quite novel (Experiment 2). Experiment 3 demonstrated that a context that had been associated with LiCl would serve to block the acquisition of a conditioned flavor aversion when it was presented immediately after the injection on a flavor-LiCl trial. These results show that a procedure in which rats experience the adverse effects of a lithium injection in the presence of contextual cues is effective in endowing those cues with aversive properties. It is argued that the context evokes a state of conditioned nausea, and the parallel with the clinical phenomenon of anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) in human patients is outlined.
Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003, Oviedo, Spain.
M
M
Rodriguez
M
M
Lopez
M
M
Symonds
G
G
Hall
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003463:Cues; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D051381:Rats; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D014868:Water Deprivation
D008094:Lithium