This system is located in the hypothalamus. But, IF the rats are force fed so they are kept alive, the effects of stimuli on eating behaviors slowly return. Normally a sweet food would elicit eating even in a hungry rat. These lesioned rats do eventually begin to nibble on highly palatable foods like sweets. Eventually, the rats will eat larger amounts of food and the food doesn't have to be as sweet or high fat.
Normal food smells finally become stimuli that elicit eating.
The brain is a dynamic system that adapts. Cells that had different functions begin to change function and replace lost cells as well as grow new connections. Parts of the brain that affect reinforcement and punishment Read pp. 180 to 184 in the text. This material may not be covered in class but you are responsible for the information on these pages relative to the study guide.