Sensory processing is modulated by attention, which is a function of network states. Here we show that changes in such states do more than a simple gating of stimuli: they actually re-arrange cortical coding space to emphasize emotional valences. We delivered taste stimuli to rats before and after a spontaneous state change ("disengagement") that is associated with a reduction in attention and ...

The differential effects of CCK and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on sucrose intake and palatability were examined. Rats were injected with LPS (200 μg/kg ip) or NaCl (0.9%, vehicle) and 2 h later received a second injection of either CCK (8 μg/kg ip) or NaCl. In experiment 1, sucrose (0.3 M) intake was monitored for 1 h on three different test days 72 h apart, while in experiment 2, palatability wa...

palatability includes plants physical and chemical property that encourages an animal selecta plant for grazing. this study is an attempt for intruducing an indicator for determining thepalatability of rangeland plants. to do this, the relationship between palatability and foragequality of rangeland plants in karsanak rangelands of the chaharmahal-va-bakhtiari provincewas studied. first, plant ...

Primary producers such as plants and macroalgae can vary in palatability to their herbivorous grazers; this leads to variation in the intensity of herbivory, which can play an important role in setting the composition and diversity of producer assemblages. However, despite strong gradients in the composition and abundance of herbivores across intertidal gradients, little is known about how macr...

The effects of leaf toughness, trichome characteristics, nutrient and water availability, and secondary chemistry on diet selection by the leafcutting ant Atta cephalotes were determined using individuals of 49 woody plant species from a tropical deciduous forest in Costa Rica. The palatability of plants was measured by presenting whole leaves to leafcutting ant foragers on trails and counting ...

In order to determine the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on grain quality and starch physicochemical properties japonica rice cultivars with different contents amylose, normal amylose content (NAC) low (LAC) were grown in a field, or without (WN). The relationships between content, eating also examined. Compared WN, (NF) significantly increased yield but markedly decreased weight. addition, pro...

A method for assessing the palatability of selected threatened plant species to brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) is proposed, based on a brief review of relevant literature. This report was prepared as external unprogrammed science advice for Westland Conservancy, Department of Conservation. OBJECTIVES Develop a procedure for assessing the palatability of particular threatened plant sp...

Can the evolution of plant defense lead to an optimal primary production? In a general theoretical model, Loreau (1995) and de Mazancourt et al. (1998, 1999) have shown that herbivory could increase primary production up to a moderate rate of grazing intensity through recycling of a limiting nutrient, provided several conditions are fulfilled. In the present paper, we assume: (1) grazing intens...

The hypothesis that benzodiazepine-induced hyperphagia is due to a specific enhancement of the palatability of foods has been supported by previous 'taste reactivity' studies of affective (hedonic and aversive) reactions to taste palatability. Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide enhance hedonic reactions of rats (rhythmic tongue protrusions, etc.) to sweet tastes in a receptor-specific fashion. A rol...

Changes in palatability of tastes and flavours as a result of flavour preference conditioning were examined. In Experiment 1, when tastes were paired with glucose in a reverse-order differential conditioning paradigm, rats acquired conditioned preferences for CS(+) and displayed more hedonic responses to CS(+) than to CS(-) in a postconditioning taste reactivity test. In Experiment 2, rats that...