Altered food preferences after lesions in the basolateral region of the amygdala in the rat.

Rats with lesions in the basolateral amygdala chose different foods from control rats in 10-min. food-preference tests. The normal rats ate primarily familiar chow, while the amygdala-lesioned rats ate primarily novel foods. The lesioned rats did not select indiscriminately but showed definite preferences. With repeated testing, the normal rats' preferences became similar to those of the amygdala-lesioned rats. Food-preference tests in a disturbing environment suggested that the difference between the lesioned and control groups was not due to a general alteration in behavior such as fear. Other aspects of ingestive behavior, such as body weight regulation, were not primarily altered by the lesions. The basolateral amygdala may therefore be concerned with the selection of foods on the basis of previous experience.