LAUSR

HighlightsLH inactivation changed the preference in effort‐based decision making.LH inactivation changed the preference in delay‐based decision making.LH inactivation increased total latency for making a decision.LH inactivation decreased spontaneous locomotors activities. ABSTRACT The Lateral hypothalamus (LH) is an important component of the networks underlying the control of feeding and other motivated behaviors. Cost‐benefit decision‐making is mediated largely by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) which strongly innervates the LH. Therefore, in the current study, we conducted a series of experiments to elucidate the role of the perifornical area of the lateral hypothalamus (PeF‐LH) in effort and/or delay‐based decision‐making. We trained different groups of rats in a delay‐based and/or an effort‐based form of cost‐benefit T‐maze decision‐ making task in which they could either choose to pay the cost to obtain a high reward in one arm or could obtain a low reward in the other arm with no cost. During test days, the rats received local injections of either vehicle or lidocaine4% (0.5 &mgr;l/side), in the PeF‐LH. In an effort‐based decision task, PeF‐LH inactivation led to decrease in high reward choice. Similarly, in a delay‐based decision task animals’ preference changed to a low but immediately available reward. This was not caused by a spatial memory or motor deficit. PeF‐LH inactivation modified decision behavior. The results imply that PeF‐LH is important for allowing the animal to pay a cost to acquire greater rewards.