Lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala decrease taste threshold for sodium chloride in rats

► The CeA is not essential in the profile of conditioned taste aversion. ► The taste threshold for NaCl was 0.0006 M in rats with CeA lesions. ► The taste threshold for NaCl was 0.005 M in normal rats and in rats with sham lesions. ► Lesions of the CeA increased the sensitivity to NaCl taste in rats. ► The CeA may be involved in encoding the intensity of salty gustation elicited by NaCl.