Date of Award
1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Program
Biomedical Sciences
Track
Neuroscience
Research Advisor
John D. Boughter, PhD
Committee
Hao Chen; Matthew Ennis; Max Fletcher; Detlef Heck
Keywords
Taste; Cortex; Learning; Imaging
Abstract
This research investigates the organization of taste representations in the gustatory cortex (GC) through two experiments utilizing miniscope imaging in mice. The first experiment focuses on conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and reveals that taste representations in GC are heavily dominated by palatability, with shifts in representational space occurring as a function of learning and extinction. The second experiment explores the interrelation of aversive stimuli, the impact of novelty on taste representations, and the role of somatosensory feedback. Findings suggest that familiarity and palatability emerge as positive signals with experience, shaping taste representations in GC. The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of neural mechanisms underlying taste processing, offering insights into feeding behavior and decision-making processes. The implications extend to broader neuroscientific inquiries, expanding the understanding of the mechanisms of cortical sensory processing and behavior generation.
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5202-814X
DOI
10.21007/aetd.cghs.2024.0001
Recommended Citation
Raymond, Martin (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5202-814X), "Taste and Learning in the Gustatory Cortex" (2024). Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs). Paper 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.21007/aetd.cghs.2024.0001.
https://dc.uthsc.edu/aetd/1