Overshadowing of the less salient of two novel fluids in a taste-aversion paradigm

Abstract

Rats were made ill by injection of apomorphine following consumption of two novel-tasting fluids (saccharin and vanilla), presented serially in counterbalanced order. On a subsequent preference test between saccharin and a familiar orange fluid, the animals showed a conditioned aversion to the saccharin. However, when vanilla was paired with orange, the animals behaved similarly to the unpoisoned controls. Evidently, the presence of the more salient saccharin during conditioning interfered with the ability of the vanilla to acquire aversive properties. © 1974, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.