Comparison of the effects of lateral and ventro-posterior hypothalamic damage on the predatory behavior of cats.

Two groups of seven cats estimated preoperatively as good mice-killers were subjected to the damage of either the lateral hypothalamus (LH) or the ventro-posterior hypothalamus (VPH). The LH damage produced global impairment of the predatory behavior, such as interest in, catching, killing, or consuming the mouse, whereas VPH damage left intact most components of the predatory act, except for mouse consumption. Changes in food preference, i.e. the choice between mice and meat, were found in both groups of cats. Instead of the preoperative preference of mouse over meat, postoperative preference of meat was found in both groups. Postoperative restoration of the predatory behavior, observed in both groups, proceeded faster in the VPH cats than in the LH cats, for which the impairment lasted for several months.