Diet preference in rats (Rattus norvegicus) as a function of odor exposure, odor concentration, and conspecific presence.

Abstract

The relative contributions of social and stimulus factors in development of rat dietary preferences were examined. Investigation of odor-alone effects revealed that weak odors resulted in preference for familiar-odor diets, but only at longer exposure times. Shorter exposure to strong odors also produced differences in diet preference. When odor and conspecific presence were manipulated simultaneously, odors produced no diet preference at low intensities, whereas high-intensity odors did so regardless of conspecific presence. Medium-intensity odor concentrations produced differences only with conspecifics present, indicating social enhancement of stimuli that are ineffective in isolation. These results suggest the separate influence of social and stimulus factors on dietary preferences and explain contradictions in previous studies.

Social influences on the amount of food eaten by Norway rats

“…A naive observer Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) offered a choice between two foods after interacting with a conspecific demonstrator fed one of those foods will increase its relative intake of whichever food its demonstrator ate (Chou & Richerson, 1992;Galef & Wigmore, 1983;Posadas-Andrews & Roper, 1983;Richard, Grover & Davis, 1987;Stetter et al, 1995;Strupp & Levitsky, 1984). Such demonstrator influence on observers' food selections is surprisingly robust (Galef, Kennett & Wigmore, 1985) and can reverse not only palatability-based food preferences (Galef, 1986(Galef, , 1989Galef & Whiskin, 1998), but also food preferences resulting from learned aversions or sodium appetites (Galef, 1986, Heyes & Durlach, 1990.…”

Aspectos psicobiológicos do comportamento alimentar

“…Características do alimento podem contribuir para o processo motivacional alimentar. Outros mecanismos, além da trans-missão de informação social e ambiental, afetam a preferência alimentar, e a exposição ao odor também influencia a preferência pela dieta 34 . Experimentalmente isto pode refletir em uma situação em que o animal simplesmente prefere uma dieta com algum odor familiar em relação a uma dieta completamente nova.…”

Human hypocretin-deficient narcolepsy - aberrant food choice due to impaired taste?

“…In experimental studies, different kinds of smell influence the preference for type of diet. Olfactory and taste sensations help control of appetite and regulate the quantity and quality of foods that will be chosen 9 .…”