Summation of overshadowing and latent inhibition in rats' conditioned taste aversion: Scapegoat technique works for familiar meals

In rats' taste aversion learning, presentation of another taste with a targ et taste alleviates aversion for the target taste (overshadowing), and expo sure of a target taste prior to its conditioning alleviates aversion for th at taste (latent inhibition). The present study demonstrated summation of t hese effects, resulting in the least aversion in the rats that had received both overshadowing and latent inhibition treatments. The finding that over shadowing and latent inhibition summate is contrary to the prediction by th e comparator hypothesis that they counteract, as recently reported in condi tioned suppression of licking in thirsty rats. The present result supports the employment of the so-called "scapegoat technique" in cancer patients re ceiving chemotherapy after taking familiar meals. (C) 1999 Academic Press.