(A) Cartoon of experimental approach. AAV9.hSyn.eGFP.WPRE.bGH: (GFP control group) or AAV9.CAG.ChR2-Venus.WPRE.SV40 (Paired 20 Hz group) were injected in BLA and an optic fiber (400 µm diameter, coated with DiL) was implanted in aGC. (B) Correct positioning of injection site in BLA and of optic fiber in aGC were verified histologically. Left, green: injection site of ChR2-Venus; magenta: Hoechst counterstain; Right, green DiL indicating optic fiber tract; magenta: counterstain. White lines delineate anatomical landmarks indicating the location of BLA (left) and GC (right) based on the rat brain atlas (Paxinos and Watson, 1998). Scale bar = 500 µm. (C) To control for non-specific effects of light stimulation, one group of rats was injected with an AAV9 construct containing only the fluorescent tag Venus (GFP control, N = 8 rats). Diagram of behavioral paradigm for CTA in which the LiCl injection was substituted with 20 Hz optogenetic stimulation of BLA terminal fields in GC following sucrose exposure. Fluid consumption across training days for GFP control group. Rats showed an initial preference for sucrose over water which persisted after conditioning (GFP control: C1 sucrose 11.60 ± 1.01 mL vs. C2 sucrose 12.27 ± 0.86 mL, p=0.23) and at testing (GFP control: test day sucrose 12.03 ± 0.73 mL vs. test day H2O 0.77 ± 0.12 mL, p<10−7). (D) Diagram of behavioral paradigm for CTA in which the LiCl injection was substituted with 20 Hz optogenetic stimulation of BLA terminal fields in GC following sucrose exposure for rats that were injected with ChR2 (paired 20 Hz opto, N = 8 rats). Fluid consumption across training days for paired opto group. Rats showed an initial preference for sucrose over water which shifted after conditioning (paired 20 Hz opto: C1 sucrose 11.10 ± 2.55 mL vs. C2 sucrose 12.36 ± 1.43 mL, p=0.41) at testing (paired 20 Hz opto: test day sucrose 7.91 ± 2.10 mL vs. test day H2O 5.35 ± 2.31 mL, p=0.24). (E) Diagram of behavioral paradigm for CTA in which rats received non-contingent 20 Hz optogenetic stimulation of BLA terminal fields in GC the evening prior to sucrose exposure (non-paired 20 Hz opto, [N = 5 rats]). Fluid consumption across training days for GFP control group. Rats showed an initial preference for sucrose over water which persisted after conditioning (non-paired 20 Hz opto: C1 sucrose 13.11 ± 4.22 mL vs. C2 sucrose 12.31 ± 1.62 mL, p=0.68) and at testing (non-paired 20 Hz opto: test day sucrose 11.98 ± 3.40 mL vs. test day H2O 2.86 ± 2.33 mL, p=0.07). (F) Diagram of behavioral paradigm for CTA in which the LiCl injection was substituted with optogenetic ramp stimulation of BLA terminal fields in GC following sucrose exposure for rats that were injected with ChR2 (ramp opto, [N = 6 rats]). Fluid consumption across training days for ramp opto group. Rats showed an initial preference for sucrose over water which persisted after conditioning (ramp opto: C1 sucrose 7.64 ± 1.66 mL vs. C2 sucrose 9.60 ± 2.24 mL, p=0.06) and at testing (ramp opto: test day sucrose 9.81 ± 1.89 mL vs. test day H2O 0.73 ± 0.43 mL, p<10−4). (G) Sucrose preference scores (C1 sucrose/average H2O) did not differ between groups (GFP Control 1.70 ± 0.28, paired 20 Hz opto 1.52 ± 0.32, non-paired 20 Hz opto 1.90 ± 0.74, ramp opto 1.30 ± 0.17, 1-way ANOVA p=0.25). Aversion index of the paired 20 Hz opto group differed from both the GFP control and ramp opto on test day (GFP Control 1.70 ± 0.28, paired 20 Hz opto 1.52 ± 0.32, non-paired 20 Hz opto 1.90 ± 0.74, ramp opto 1.30 ± 0.17, 1-way ANOVA p<10−3, GFP control vs. paired 20 Hz opto, p=0.001; paired 20 Hz opto vs. ramp opto, p=0.0017). * indicates p≤0.05. Error bars ± 95% CI. The source data reported in the figure are in the Figure 6—source data 1.