Role of learning in the selection of dietary protein in the golden hamster(Mesocricetus auratus)

Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were kept for several weeks on maintenance diets (MDs) that were either nutritionally complete or protein deficient, a nd had periodic access to protein-free and high-protein conditioning diets (CDs) with marker flavors (anise and clove). In Experiment 1, protein-restr icted hamsters came to prefer the flavor of high-protein CDs but did not pr efer unflavored high-protein CD. Thus, hamsters learned to select dietary p rotein by attending to the flavor of the CD. In Experiment 2, a within-subj ects design was used, and MDs also had marker flavors (garlic and sage). Ha msters came to prefer the flavor of high-protein CD when protein restricted , and they showed this preference even in the absence of protein restrictio n if reexposed for only 90 min to merely the flavor of a protein-deficient MD. Thus, learned associations between the flavor and the usual postingesti onal consequences of a recently ingested MD can affect short-term. dietary protein selection.