THE EFFECT OF THALAMIC LESIONS ON PRIMATE TASTE PREFERENCE

Taste preferences and aversions were examined before and after the pla cement of bilateral, electrophysiologically guided electrolytic lesion s of the thalamic taste area in five Old World monkeys. The only consi stent changes shown by all lesioned monkeys on the 30-min, single-bott le intake test were a significantly attenuated consumption of 0.003 M quinine hydrochloride and a significantly elevated intake of 0.1 M sod ium chloride. These specific taste deficits are contrary to the global hypogeusia predicted on the basis of previous research. A revised def inition of the boundaries of the gustatory thalamus is suggested and t he merits of the thalamic monkey preparation are compared with those o f the decerebrate rat model. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.