Microstructural analysis of ingestive behaviour reveals no contribution of palatability to the incomplete extinction of a conditioned taste aversion.

An analysis of the microstructure of licking responses was used to investigate the effects of conditioning and extinguishing a taste aversion. Rats received a single pairing of 8% fructose with lithium chloride (LiCl) while controls received unpaired exposure to fructose and LiCl. Pairing fructose with LiCl produced a reduction both in consumption and in the size of licking clusters. Subsequent exposure to fructose in the absence of LiCl produced some extinction of the taste aversion although at asymptote there was a residual difference in consumption between the taste aversion group and unpaired controls. In contrast the reduction in lick cluster size did completely extinguish. Previous analyses of licking microstructure indicate that lick cluster size is related to the palatability of the ingested solution. Thus these results indicate that although taste aversion learning initially reduces the palatability of the cue solution this reduction is not permanent. These results are discussed with reference to the possibility that preparatory behaviours are more resistant to extinction than are consummatory behaviours.