The effect of fluid deprivation on taste deficits following cortical lesions.

Abstract

The cortical receptive zones of the chorda tympani and IXth nerve were ablated in male albino rats. Interference with taste discrimination was measured by one and two bottle techniques with quinine hydrochloride under conditions of low fluid deprivation and high fluid deprivation (16-hour). Lesions resulted in raised thresholds under low-deprivation conditions with both methods of testing. Under high-deprivation conditions taste performance is normal. In 5 animals with massive removal of neocortex, however, deficits persisted under the high-drive conditions. "It is concluded that the taste nerve area is necessary for normal taste discrimination only under conditions of low fluid deprivation and that other cortical areas are involved in discrimination when fluid deprivation is high." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)