Imagine that feeding behavior was eliminated when a radio-frequency lesion was used to damage the lateral hypothalamus of a rat, which suggested that cells within this region initiate feeding. If a subsequent study failed to observe a change in feeding after injection of kainic acid into the lateral hypothalamus, what conclusion would be appropriate?
A) Glial cells within the lateral hypothalamus are key for the control of eating.
B) The changes in eating noted in the first study are due to fibers that are passing through the lateral hypothalamus.
C) The changes in eating are due to damage to cell bodies within the lateral hypothalamus, and these act to initiate eating.
D) The lateral hypothalamus functions to inhibit eating.
E) The investigator should have chosen a different inhibitory amino acid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The failure of kainic acid injection to alter feeding behavior suggests that the changes observed in the first study were not due to damage to the cell bodies within the lateral hypothalamus but rather to fibers passing through this region. This conclusion is consistent with previous studies suggesting that the lateral hypothalamus may function to integrate signals from other brain regions involved in the regulation of feeding. Thus, option B is the most appropriate conclusion. Option A is not supported by the evidence provided, and option C is inconsistent with the findings of the second study. Option D may be true, but it is not supported by the evidence provided in either study. Option E is not relevant to the question posed.

Imagine That Feeding Behavior Was Eliminated When a Radio-Frequency Lesion