Within-Compound Associations Are Not Sufficient To Produce Taste-Mediated Odor Potentiation

Abstract

Previous research provides theoretical explanations for conditioned taste aversion (CTA) by proposing specific relationships among taste, odor, and illness in rats. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of taste + odor compound conditioning on potentiation. Experiment 1 used an inflation method to study taste – mediated odor potentiation. Results confirmed that a strong almond odor and a weak denatonium (DEN) taste could produce within –compound associations without the presence of potentiation. Experiment 2 used the same concentrations of stimuli, however extinguished the DEN taste in Phase 2 conditioning. Results also confirmed within – compound associations in the absence of potentiation. Experiments 1 and 2 were designed to test the within – compound associations model of potentiation as well as the sensory and gate – channeling model, in hopes of identifying details of the taste + odor compound conditioning relationship. On the basis of these explanations, we predicted that within – compound associations could be present in the absence of potentiation.