Research ReportTaste neophobia and c-Fos expression in the rat brain

Taste neophobia refers to a reduction in consumption of a novel taste relative to when it is familiar. To gain more understanding of the neural basis of this phenomenon, the current study examined whether a novel taste (0.5% saccharin) supports a different pattern of c-Fos expression than the same taste when it is familiar. Results revealed that the taste ofthe novel saccharin solution evoked more Fos immunoreactivity than the familiar taste of saccharin in the basolateral region of the amygdala, central nucleus of the amygdala, gustatory portion of the thalamus, and the gustatory insular cortex. No such differential expressionwas found in the other examined areas, including the bed nucleus of stria terminalis,medial amygdala, and medial parabrachial nucleus. The present results are discussed with respect to a forebrain taste neophobia system.

► We examined c-Fos expression in the central gustatory system after either novel or familiar saccharin was consumed. ► The novel taste induced higher levels of c-Fos expression than familiar taste in BLA, CNA, GT and IC. ► The potentiated c-Fos expression induced by novel tastes was not found in the medial PBN, BNST or medial amygdala.