Lesions were produced in rats at thalamic sites previously shown to give electrical activity to taste stimulation. In control rats lesions were dorsal to thalamic taste nucleus. When thirsty, 7 experimentals and 6 controls were trained to press a bar on a 30-sec. VI schedule for dipper-presented solutions. Taste-deficient experimentals pressed for water at a low rate which was unaffected by addition of quinine. The rate of controls declined was much as 90% with increasing quinine concentrations. When hungry, experimentals, unlike controls, pressed well only for strong sucrose, and displayed low rates for saccharin and weak sucrose solutions. Two taste-deficient rats ceased responding. Taste of these reinforcing solutions appears to be an important determination of bar-pressing rate.