The central nucleus of the amygdala and gustatory cortex assess affective valence during CTA learning and expression in male and female rats

This study evaluated behavior (Boost(R) intake, LiCl-induced behaviors, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), task performance) and c-Fos activation during conditioned taste aversion (CTA), the reinforced task (Boost(R) task) and control task (cage only) to understand how male and female rats balance the relative danger or safety of a stimulus in learning and performing a task. Females drank more Boost(R) than males but showed similar aversive behaviors after LiCl treatment. Males produced 55 kHz USVs (indicating positive valence) when anticipating Boost(R) and inhibited these calls after pairing with LiCl. Females produced 55 kHz USVs based on their estrous cycle but were more likely to make 22 kHz USVs than males (indicating negative valence) after pairing with LiCl. c-Fos responses were similar in males and females after Boost(R) or LiCl. Females engaged the gustatory cortex and ventral tegmental area more than males during the Boost(R) task and males engaged the amygdala more than females in both the reinforcing and devalued tasks. Network analysis of correlated c-Fos responses across brain regions identified two unique networks characterizing the Boost(R) and LiCl (CTA) tasks, in both of which the VTA played a central role. RNAscope identified a population of D1-receptor expressing cells in the CeA that responded to Boost(R) and D2 receptor-expressing cells that responded to LiCl. The present study suggests that males and females differentially process the affective valence of a stimulus to produce the same goal-directed behavior.