Robust preference for a flavor paired with intragastric glucose acquired in a single trial.
Rats learn to prefer flavors followed by postingestive action of nutrients. This experiment demonstrates that such preferences can be acquired with only a single, brief pairing of a novel flavor with intragastric (IG) glucose infusion. Male rats with IG catheters consumed unflavored saccharin in daily 10-min sessions, and then received in counterbalanced order on separate days a single pairing of coffee- or vinegar-flavored saccharin with IG glucose, and of the opposite flavor with IG water. Rats subsequently preferred the glucose-paired flavor in a choice test in the absence of glucose infusion. Preference was robust, persisting through repeated non-reinforced testing.
Myers
Kevin P
KP
Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA. kmyers@bucknell.edu
D000818:Animals; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
D005947:Glucose