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Rats exhibit a sensitive period from the time of birth until postnatal day 10 during which they develop preferences for odors even if those odors are paired with a moderately aversive stimulus. It is still unknown whether pre-exposure to an odor produces alterations on intake responses of basic tastants, and on other patterns that indicate a change in the hedonic value of reward, such as nipple grasping behavior. The current study assessed the effect of pre-exposure to an odor immediately after birth on intake responses of appetitive and aversive tastants. The objectives were to assess if 3-hour-old rats adjust their behaviors to obtain different values of appetitive and aversive rewards in the presence of a familiar odor. Specifically we wanted to determine whether the intake of saccharin or quinine, administered through the artificial nipple, increases in the presence of the familiar odor. Results showed that 3-hour-old rats differentially respond to two different concentrations of saccharin and two concentrations of quinine. In the presence of the pre-exposed odor newborn rats increased intake and grasp responses to the artificial nipple containing quinine. This effect disappeared with a higher concentration of quinine. These results suggest that the pre-exposed odor generated a change in the hedonic value of the aversive reward. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

12 citations (Crossref) [2023-10-31] Place: United States Kamenetzky, Giselle V. Laboratorio de Psicologia Experimental y Aplicada, IDIM, CONICET, UBA, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud (CAECIHS-UAI), Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: yoselevich@hotmail.com. Suarez, Andrea B. Laboratorio de Psicologia Experimental y Aplicada, IDIM, CONICET, UBA, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud (CAECIHS-UAI), Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pautassi, Ricardo M. Instituto de Investigacion Medica Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina. Mustaca, Alba E. Laboratorio de Psicologia Experimental y Aplicada, IDIM, CONICET, UBA, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud (CAECIHS-UAI), Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nizhnikov, Michael E. Southern Connecticut State University, United States.