Odor-cued taste avoidance: a simple and efficient method for assessing olfactory detection, discrimination and memory in the rat.

Rats quickly learn to avoid licking at a drinking tube containing an odorant and quinine hydrochloride. After training, the rat responds readily to water but sniffs at but does not lick a tube containing a solution of isoamyl acetate. Learning occurs after only one or two exposures to the combination of odor and tastant. This method can be used to demonstrate odor discrimination, odor memory, and to assess detection of low concentrations of odors.