Abstract
I examined the capacity of a socially induced enhanced diet preference to reverse the effects of a LiCl-induced diet aversion. I found that rats poisoned after eating a novel diet (Diet NPT) would consume substantial amounts of Diet NPT following interaction with a conspecific that had eaten Diet NPT. Neither rats interacting with a conspecific fed some other diet nor rats exposed to Diet NPT itself exhibited reduced aversion to Diet NPT. This surprising capacity of social interaction to ameliorate even profound toxicosis-induced aversions suggests that social influence may be a major experiential determinant of the diet preferences of free-living rats.
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This research was supported by grants from both the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and McMaster University Research Board.
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Galef, B.G. Socially induced diet preference can partially reverse a LiCl-induced diet aversion. Animal Learning & Behavior 13, 415–418 (1985). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208018