Abstract
Taste aversion learning exhibits advantages for research on memory brain systems and its reorganization throughout life. A review of the effects of aging on taste memory abilities offers a complex picture showing preserved, impaired, and enhanced functions. Some of the age-related changes in taste memory seem to be associated with an altered temporal processing. Longer taste–illness delays can be introduced for acquisition of conditioned taste aversions and the modulation of taste learning by the temporal context is absent in naïve old rats. It is suggested that an altered hippocampal function is involved in the peculiar performance of these rats. Evidence is also presented which suggests that hippocampal-dependent taste memory can be reactivated by previous learning experiences in old rats. Results obtained after reversible inactivation of the dorsal Hippocampus by tetrodotoxin (TTX) in old rats support such a view. Therefore, the interaction between the previous experience and acute brain interventions should be taken into account when studying the effect of aging on taste memory.
Highlights
Taste aversion learning exhibits advantages for research on memory brain systems and its reorganization throughout life
This review focuses on the potential time processing changes for understanding the peculiar features of conditioned taste aversions (CTA) at advanced ages
Temporal processing deficits may be at the root of the peculiar features of older subjects’ performance in taste learning tasks
Summary
Taste aversion learning exhibits advantages for research on memory brain systems and its reorganization throughout life. A review of the effects of aging on taste memory abilities offers a complex picture showing preserved, impaired, and enhanced functions. Evidence is presented which suggests that hippocampaldependent taste memory can be reactivated by previous learning experiences in old rats. Results obtained after reversible inactivation of the dorsal Hippocampus by tetrodotoxin (TTX) in old rats support such a view.the interaction between the previous experience and acute brain interventions should be taken into account when studying the effect of aging on taste memory. Contrary to the idea of a global memory decay, normal aging seems to selectively deteriorate some memory functions whilst others remain relatively unimpaired or even enhanced This is the case in taste aversion learning.
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