Taste preferences of the cat for neurophysiologically active compounds

Abstract

Six naturally occurring compounds which have been observed to be physiologically active in the anesthetized cat are also demonstrated to be behaviorally active in terms of preference and avoidance. Using a two-bottle long-term preference experiment, concentrations of.5, 5, 50 mM L-proline, L-lysine, L-histidine, L-tryptophan, L-isoleucine, and adenine (all in 50 mM NaCl) were compared against 50 mM saline. At 50 mM concentration, those chemicals which elicit ah increase in spike output from geniculate ganglion chemoresponsive group II units (L-proline, L-lysine, and L-histidine) were found to be preferred, while L-tryptophan, L-isoleucine, and adenine, which decrease group II discharge, were avoided. The preference response to L-proline was then observed over a concentration range extending to 500 mM. Maximum response was observed at 50 mM, with preference decreasing as concentration was either increased or decreased. © 1975, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.