title: The CS-US delay gradient in flavor preference conditioning with intragastric carbohydrate infusions.
abstract: Rats are able to associate a flavor with the delayed presentation of food, but the obtained flavor preferences are often weak. The present studies evaluated the effect of delay between a flavor CS and a post-oral nutrient US on the expression of conditioned flavor preferences. In Experiment 1, rats were trained with two CS flavors: one was followed after a delay by intragastric infusion of 8% glucose, and the other was followed after the same delay by intragastric water. Rats trained with 2.5, 10, and 30-min delays expressed significant (84-68%) preferences for the glucose-paired flavor whereas rats trained with 60-min delays were indifferent (51%). Experiment 2 examined flavor conditioning over a 60-min delay using 8 or 16% Polycose based on findings that orally consumed Polycose conditions preferences at this delay interval. The 8 and 16% Polycose infusions produced significant preferences which peaked at 62% and 73%, respectively. The ability to bridge these delays may allow animals to learn about slowly digested foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA. kackroff@gc.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ackroff
authors.forename: Debra Blusk
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sclafani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates