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Food Dependence In Rats Selectively Bred For Low Versus High Saccharin Intake. Implications For "Food Addiction"., Clinton Chapman, Nancy Dess, Veronica Yakovenko, Elizabeth Speidel

Clinton D Chapman

The "food addiction" concept implies that proneness to drug dependence and to food dependence should covary. The latter was studied in low- (LoS) and high- (HiS) saccharin-consuming rats, who differ in drug self-administration (HiS > LoS) and withdrawal (LoS > HiS). Sugary food intake in the first 1–2 h was higher in HiS than LoS rats. Sugar intake predicted startle during abstinence only among LoS rats. These results may suggest bingeing-proneness in HiS rats and withdrawal-proneness among LoS rats. However, intake escalation and somatic withdrawal did not differ between lines. Further study with selectively bred rats, with attention to definitions and measures, …