<p>Wheel running in forward taste-conditioning induces conditioned taste avoidance, while backward taste-conditioning results in conditioned taste preference, a bivalent effect of the wheel-running as unconditioned stimulus. In the present study we replicated the bivalent-conditioning design used by Dobek, Heth and Pierce (2012), but added a constant amount of tension to the running wheels. Six rats were exposed to a flavor before access to the wheel (before flavor), then placed in the running wheel to allow for wheel activity, and subsequently exposed to a second flavor (after flavor). Results indicated less consumption of the before flavor. Adding force to the wheels reduces the number of wheel revolutions over conditioning sessions, reducing the conditioned taste avoidance effect but not the flavor preference that followed wheel running.</p>
<p>Key words: Conditioned taste avoidance, conditioned taste preference, wheel running, rats.</p>