Specific and Differential Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascades by Unfamiliar Taste in the Insular Cortex of the Behaving Rat

Rats were given to drink an unfamiliar taste solution under conditions that result in long-term memory of that taste. The insular cortex, which contains the taste cortex, was then removed and assayed for activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades by using antibodies to the activated forms of various MAPKs. Extracellular responsive kinase 1–2 (ERK1–2) in the cortical homogenate was significantly activated within