A rhinencephalic feeding center in the cat

Abstract

Lesions of the rhinencephalon, primarily restricted to the pyriform lobe and amygdaloid complex, modifies the eating behavior of cats so that their food intakes and body weights are significantly increased. Neodecortication has no significant effect on either food intake or body weight whether done before or after the amygdalectomy. The amygdaloid cats eat significantly more than their controls and gain weight at a significantly more rapid rate when on an ad libitum feeding regimen. It is concluded that the amygdaloid complex constitutes some type of feeding center in the cat probably exerting its effects on more primitive lower brain stem feeding mechanisms.