FEEDING AND BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION IN INFANT RATS

Rat pups that were separated from their mothers and deprived of food were capable of feeding either from small puddles of milk or when milk was infused into the front of their mouths. Such feeding was accompanied by a dramatic increase in behavioral activity and only occurred in a warm environment. Apparently, neural systems for ingestive behavior are present at birth. The existence of feeding-related arousal or motivational systems is suggested.