Synergism of a compound unconditioned stimulus in taste aversion conditioning.

Anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS) and lithium chloride have both previously been used successfully as unconditioned stimuli in taste aversion conditioning paradigms in rats. This report substantiates those findings but shows that when the two stimuli are given as a compound unconditioned stimulus in association with saccharin flavoured drinking solution, the conditioned taste aversion response following a second exposure to saccharin alone is more profound than that following conditioning with either ALS or LiCl alone. These results demonstrate synergism between the two stimuli when given together.