We proposed new method for measuring dynamic changes in hunger motivation in rabbits in the course of satisfaction of nutritional need by weight, time, and rate parameters of effective food-procuring behavior. Transformation of the amount of food eaten into the electric signals was performed using electronic weighing machine incorporated into hardware and software system. The most conclusive characteristic for decrease in hunger motivation in the course of first effective food-procuring act was the period of food-procuring cycles, which values increase significantly as animal satisfies its nutritional need, whereas amount of the food consumed for each food-procuring cycle remains constant. Integral characteristics of food-procuring behavior reflect higher level of food motivation in the course of first effective food-procuring act in comparison to the subsequent ones.
We developed a method for evaluation of dynamic changes in the level of food motivation in rabbits during successful food-procuring behavior. Quantitative and temporal parameters of food consumption over each successive cycle of food-procuring behavior were used. The amount of consumed food was converted into electrical signal using an electronic balance incorporated into a hardware-software complex. Temporal parameters of food-procuring activity were determined by changes in electric signal in real-time mode. This method makes it possible to record simultaneously food-procuring activity and impulse activity of masticator muscles and esophageal muscles, which enables parallel analysis of rhythms of food consumption, mastication, and swallowing.
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