Influence of palatability on motivation to operate for caloric and non-caloric food in non food-deprived and food-deprived rats

► Sated rats had similar NAcS dopaminergic responses to sucrose or saccharin snacks. ► Fasted rats showed habituation in dopaminergic responses selectively to saccharin. ► Sated rats showed similar lever pressing scores for sucrose or saccharin. ► After an 18-h fast rats increased the breaking point score selectively for sucrose. ► Sated rats showed pre-feeding devaluation for sucrose not for saccharin.