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Forebrain contribution to the induction of a brainstem correlate of conditioned taste aversion. II. Insular

G E Schafe1, I L Bernstein

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Washington, 119 Guthrie Hall, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA.

Brain Research
|August 1, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Bilateral lesions of the insular cortex prevent conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning in rats. While c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (c-FLI) in the nucleus of the solitary tract was reduced, it did not fully abolish CTA expression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Neuroanatomy

Background:

  • Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning involves specific neural pathways.
  • c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (c-FLI) in the intermediate nucleus of the solitary tract (iNTS) correlates with CTA behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the insular cortex (IC) in CTA learning and expression.
  • To define neuroanatomical structures and pathways contributing to CTA cellular responses.

Main Methods:

  • Electrolytic lesions of the insular cortex (unilateral or bilateral) or sham operations in rats.
  • Conditioning trials involving intraoral infusion of saccharin followed by LiCl injection.
  • Immunostaining for c-FLI in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS).

Main Results:

  • Bilateral IC lesions abolished CTA acquisition and reduced c-FLI in the iNTS.
  • Unilateral IC lesions impaired CTA expression and reduced ipsilateral iNTS c-FLI.
  • Both amygdala and insular cortex are necessary, but not sufficient, for CTA behavioral expression.

Conclusions:

  • The insular cortex is critical for the acquisition and expression of conditioned taste aversion.
  • Neural pathways involving the insular cortex and amygdala are essential for CTA.

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