lateral hypothalamic syndrome

n. 1. A pattern of symptoms including failure or inability to eat or drink characteristic of lesions to the lateral hypothalamus. 2. A four- stage pattern of recovery from damage to the lateral hypothalamus in which the first stage is nearly complete failure or inability to eat or drink, which often results in death unless the animal is force fed. The second stage is a continued failure to drink and poor appetite, eating only wet, palatable food. In the third stage the animal will eat soggy food but continues to avoid drinking. In the fourth stage the animal establishes new eating and drinking habits but continues to eat and drink at a lower rate than before the damage to the brain.