Sensitization of salt appetite is associated with increased "wanting" but not "liking" of a salt reward in the sodium-deplete rat.

To examine the role of incentive sensitization in the potentiation of salt appetite by prior depletions, the authors assessed the motivation to obtain salt ("wanting") and the palatability of salt ("liking") independently in salt-sensitized rats. Breakpoint on a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule was used to measure salt wanting and taste reactivity was used to measure salt liking in rats with and without a history of Na+ depletion. Salt-sensitized rats displayed higher breakpoints relative to controls. However, a history of Na+ depletion was not associated with a greater positive shift in taste reactivity measures. The data suggest that these components of reward are separable in this model and support the general proposition that sensitization may alter wanting but not liking.