Altered food preferences after lesions in the basolateral region of the amygdala in the rat

Studied the food preferences of 52 male hooded Lister and albino Wistar rats. 19 Ss were intact; 33 received bilateral lesions of the basolateral amygdala. Lesioned Ss chose different foods from controls in 10-min food-preference tests. The normal Ss ate primarily familiar chow, while the amygdala-lesioned Ss ate primarily novel foods. The lesioned Ss did not select indiscriminately but showed definite preferences. With repeated testing, the normal Ss' preferences became similar to those of the lesioned Ss. Food-preference tests in a disturbing environment suggested that the difference between the lesioned and control groups was not due to a general alteration in behavior such as fear. Other aspects of ingestive behavior, such as body weight regulation, were not primarily altered by the lesions. The basolateral amygdala may therefore be concerned with the selection of foods on the basis of previous experience. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).