Source Paper
Orbitofrontal Cortex and Representation of Incentive Value in Associative Learning
Michela Gallagher, Robert W. McMahan, Geoffrey Schoenbaum
Journal of Neuroscience • 1999
Taste Aversion Learning
Objective: Investigate the effect of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) lesions on taste aversion learning and the ability of conditioned stimuli to access representational information about incentive value of associated reinforcement
This is a Taste Aversion Learning protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 4 equipment items, 2 materials. Extracted from a 1999 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Initial Conditioned Response Training • Taste Aversion Learning (US Devaluation) • Devaluation Test
Primary readouts
- Acquisition of conditioned response to visual CS in initial training phase
- Taste aversion learning in second training phase
- Approach behavior to food cup during CS presentation in devaluation test
- Change in conditioned responding following US devaluation
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
Confirm first
- Verify the animal model, intervention setup, and collection timepoints against the source paper.
- Check that every direct vendor link matches the exact specification your lab plans to run.
Use the page like this
- Work through the protocol steps in order and use the inline vendor chips only when you need to source or verify an item.
- Jump to Experimental Context for readouts, data shape, and analysis flow before planning downstream analysis.
Protocol Steps
Start here. The step list is optimized for running the experiment, with direct vendor links available inline when you need to source a cited item.
Initial Conditioned Response Training
Rats were trained to associate a visual conditioned stimulus (CS) with delivery of food pellets to a food cup. This training established a conditioned approach response where rats approached the food cup during presentation of the CS in anticipation of reinforcement.
Note: This is the first training phase establishing the baseline conditioned response
View evidence from paper
“Rats were first trained to associate a visual CS with delivery of food pellets to a food cup. As a consequence of learning, rats approached the food cup during the CS in anticipation of reinforcement”
Taste Aversion Learning (US Devaluation)
In the home cage, injection of lithium chloride (LiCl) was administered following consumption of the food unconditioned stimulus. This procedure was designed to alter the incentive value of the food US by creating a taste aversion.
Note: This is the second training phase that devalues the US through classical conditioning
View evidence from paper
“In a second training phase, injection of LiCl followed consumption of the food unconditioned stimulus (US) in the home cage, a procedure used to alter the incentive value of the US”
Devaluation Test
Rats were returned to the conditioning chamber and their responding to the visual CS was tested in the absence of the food US. Approach behavior to the food cup during CS presentation was measured to assess whether the devaluation of the US affected conditioned responding.
Note: This test measures whether the CS can access representational information about the changed incentive value of the US
View evidence from paper
“Subsequently, rats were returned to the conditioning chamber, and their responding to the CS in the absence of the food US was tested”