Electrical stimulation of the insular cortex induces flavor-preferences inrats

The present study examined the role of the Insular cortex (IC) iu flavor-gu ided behavior. For that purpose, a flavored stimulus was paired with delaye d electrical stimulation of this region. In addition, a standard operant ta sk explored the involvement of the IC in a prefrontal self-stimulation rewa rd-circuit. The results showed strong preferences for the flavored stimulus previously paired to the Insular stimulation. in a discriminative free cho ice test. However, the operant task revealed a failure to induce IC self-st imulation, suggesting that flavor preferences elicited by electrical stimul ation of the IC are not due to activation of the prefrontal-stimulation rew ard circuit. These results are discussed in terms of the Insular Cortex as critical in processing visceral stimulus, hedonic valence and/or food-rewar d incentive learning. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.