Taste aversion proneness: A modulator of conditioned consummatory aversions in rats

Elkins, Ralph L.; Hobbs, Stephen H.

doi:10.3758/bf03334833

Cited by 31 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Comparable individual differences in TA acquisition and retention of humans were observed during a consummatory aversion approach to alcoholism treatment (Elkins 1980). Individual differences in TA acquisition and retention are consistent with the concept of TA proneness, a hypothesized intrasubject modulator of TA conditionability (Elkins fit Hobbs 1982). Interest in TA proneness has led to an ongoing selective breeding development of strains of TA-prone (TAP) and TAresistant (TAR) rats.…”

Section: More Evidence For the Role Of Learning In Homeostasismentioning

confidence: 57%

CNS–immune system interactions: Conditioning phenomena

1985

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Converging data from different disciplines indicate that central nervous system processes are capable of influencing immune responses. This paper concentrates on recent studies documenting behaviorally conditioned suppression and enhancement of immunity. Exposing rats or mice to a conditioned stimulus previously paired with an immunomodulating agent results in alterations in humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to antigenic stimuli, and unreinforced reexposures to the conditioned stimuli result in extinction of the conditioned response. Although the magnitude of such conditioning effects has not been large, the phenomenon has been independently verified under a variety of experimental conditions. The biological impact of conditioned alterations in immune function is illustrated by studies in which conditioning operations were applied in the pharmacotherapy of autoimmune disease in New Zealand mice. In conditioned animals, substituting conditioned stimuli for active drugs delays the onset of autoimmune disease relative to nonconditioned animals using a dose of immunosuppressive drug that, by itself, is ineffective in modifying the progression of disease. The hypothesis that such conditioning effects are mediated by elevations in adrenocortical steroid levels receives no support from available data. Despite its capacity for self-regulation, it appears that the immune system is integrated with other psychophysiological processes and subject to modulation by the brain.

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Section: More Evidence For the Role Of Learning In Homeostasismentioning

confidence: 57%

CNS–immune system interactions: Conditioning phenomena

1985

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“…Different strains of rats also vary in efficiency of T A learning (Ader, 1973;Dragoin, 1971;Rozin, 1968). These findings suggest that genotype may contribute to individual differences in T A proneness both within and between populations (Elkins & Hobbs, 1982 hypothesis has been confirmed through the selective breeding of strains of Sprague-Dawley-derived rats that differ in their propensity toward T A learning (Elkins, Note 2). Significant strain differences in the strength of a cyclophosphamide-induced saccharin aversion appeared in the second selected (S-2) generation, and considerable divergence has occurred over seven selected generations.…”

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confidence: 61%

Operant performance of rats selectively bred for strong or weak acquisition of conditioned taste aversions

Hobbs¹,

Elkins²

1983

Bull. Psychon. Soc.

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An ongoing program of selective breeding is successfully developing strains of SpragueDawley-derived rats that are strong or weak acquirers of a cyclophosphamide-induced taste aversion (T A). Although strain separation has been based exclusively upon the T A criterion, all subjects have also been studied with respect to the acquisition of shock-motivated environmental avoidance (SMEA) responses. The separation of strains of strong and weak T A learners has not resulted in similar changes in SMEA learning efficiency. The present study was undertaken to extend this analysis by comparing the two strains on appetitively motivated operant behaviors. Both fixed-ratio (FR) and differential-reinforcement-of-Iow-rates (DRL) schedules were studied because of their respective contrast with and similarity to the TA paradigm. No strain differences in food-reinforced barpressing were detected under either the FR or the DRL schedule. These results indicate that strain separation on the basis of T A performance is not selecting for generalized learning or performance variables that are common to these tasks. However, in a finding that merits additional study, strong TA conditioners were found to satisfy a criterion for initial barpress acquisition under a continuous schedule of reinforcement in significantly fewer sessions than were required by the weak T A strain. Conditioned taste aversions (T As) represent a type of learning possessing both theoretical and practical significance (e.g.,

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“…Elkins (1973), having observed marked individual differences in conditioned TAs of rats, advocated attention to possible genetic contributions to TA conditionability. A repeated measures design subsequently revealed a significant correlation of aversion magnitudes when rats acquired sequential TAs to two distinct flavors (Elkins & Hobbs, 1982). These results support the concept of TA proneness, a hypothesized intrasubject propensity toward efficiency or inefficiency in TA acquisition.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Separation of taste-aversion-prone and taste-aversion-resistant rats through selective breeding: Implications for individual differences in conditionability and aversion-therapy alcoholism treatment.

Elkins¹

1986

Behavioral Neuroscience

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Both rats and alcoholic humans display considerable variability in acquisition of illness-induced consummatory aversions. Differential conditionability may be a significant modulator of outcome in alcoholics who elect taste aversion (TA) approaches to abstinence facilitation. This is a report of the ongoing development of rat strains suitable for studies of biological bases of individual differences in TA conditionability. Sprague-Dawley-derived rats have been selectively bred over seven generations as strong or weak learners of a cyclophosphamide-induced saccharin aversion. Efficiency of aversion acquisition is a selectable propensity, as indicated by progressively divergent strain separation that attained significance in the second selected generation. Subjects have also been studied with respect to shock-motivated environmental avoidance (SMEA), but efficiency of SMEA performance has not been a selection factor. Results have produced an unexpected trend across generations indicative of a within-strain reversal of TA and SMEA learning efficiency. Continuation of this reversal in subsequent generations could have important implications for studies of genetic contributions to different learning capacities and for the selection of biologically appropriate noxious stimuli for aversive therapy treatments of various target problems.

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Taste aversion proneness: A modulator of conditioned consummatory aversions in rats

Cited by 31 publications

References 17 publications

CNS–immune system interactions: Conditioning phenomena

CNS–immune system interactions: Conditioning phenomena

Operant performance of rats selectively bred for strong or weak acquisition of conditioned taste aversions

Separation of taste-aversion-prone and taste-aversion-resistant rats through selective breeding: Implications for individual differences in conditionability and aversion-therapy alcoholism treatment.

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