Salivation discordant with hunger

In the present study, the authors tested whether an increase in salivation is associated with an increase in subjectively experienced hunger. After conditioning, subjects showed a significant increase in salivation flow. Hunger levels, however, were significantly decreased after conditioning. No correlation was found between salivation flow and hunger levels. It is argued that salivation responses and subjectively experienced hunger are loosely coupled systems. Salivation flow reflects the learning history of a subject which may sometimes be paralleled by a biological state which is called hunger, whereas, at other times, hunger may be absent. The authors conclude that conditioning of preparatory responses such as salivation depends on the probability relationship between exposure to cues (CSs) and food intake (US), as well as the intensity of the US.