Chronic corticosterone biases conflict-related behavior and abolishes ketamine's anticonflict effect in mice.
Natsuko Hitora-imamura, Yuki Nishida, Koki Kawazoe, Kota Ono, Haruto Kumamoto, Yuki Kurauchi, Hiroshi Katsuki
Journal of pharmacological sciences August 1, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2026.05.004 via PubMed
Summary
Chronic corticosterone exposure increased conflict behavior in mice, prolonging action initiation without causing anhedonia. Ketamine reduced conflict behavior in control mice but failed to do so in those treated with corticosterone, suggesting that stress diminishes ketamine's effectiveness. This indicates that chronic stress alters conflict-related behavior and interferes with the mechanisms through which ketamine operates.
Study at a glance
| Population | mice |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Chronic stress from corticosterone exposure increases conflict behavior and disrupts the anticonflict effects of ketamine. |
Abstract
Animals must balance reward seeking against potential danger, and impairments in such conflict decision-making are common in psychiatric disorders. Here, we examined how chronic corticosterone exposure and ketamine affect conflict behavior in mice by presenting them with a three-compartment conflict task. Three weeks of corticosterone increased conflict levels without inducing anhedonia, selectively prolonging action initiation. Ketamine reduced conflict in control mice but not in corticosterone-treated mice, indicating that stress abolishes its anticonflict effect. These findings suggest that chronic stress biases conflict-related behavior and disrupts ketamine-responsive mechanisms.