Characterizing ingestive behavior through licking microstructure: Underlying neurobiology and its use in the study of obesity in animal models

AW Johnson - International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 2018 - Elsevier
Ingestive behavior is controlled by multiple distinct peripheral and central physiological
mechanisms that ultimately determine whether a particular food should be accepted or
avoided. As rodents consume a fluid they display stereotyped rhythmic tongue movements,
and by analyzing the temporal distribution of pauses of licking, it is possible through
analyses of licking microstructure to uncover dissociable evaluative and motivational
variables that contribute to ingestive behavior. The mean number of licks occurring within …