Conditioned suppression and reinforcement of eating induced by hypothalamic stimulation.

Abstract

ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS OF 4 MALE ALBINO WISTAR RATS THROUGH UNILATERAL BIPOLAR ELECTRODES PRODUCED STIMULUS-BOUND EATING. EATING RATE WAS DEPRESSED BY A LIGHT WHICH HAD BEEN FOLLOWED BY GRID SHOCK. SUPPRESSION INCREASED AS A FUNCTION OF SHOCK INTENSITY. SHORT DELAYS OF SHOCK HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FUNCTION. CONSECUTIVE TRIALS WITH LIGHT AND SHOCK PAIRED DURING HYPOTHALAMIC STIMULATION WERE MORE EFFECTIVE IN SUPPRESSING EATING THAN AN ALTERNATED PROCEDURE WHERE THE LIGHT AND SHOCK WERE NOT PAIRED DURING HYPOTHALAMIC STIMULATION. MANIPULATION OF RESPONSE CONSEQUENCES DEMONSTRATED THAT THE HYPOTHALAMIC STIMULATION PRODUCED EATING OF SPECIFIC SUBSTANCES RATHER THAN THE EXCLUSIVELY MOTOR RESPONSES OF LICKING. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)