Chronic corticosterone biases conflict-related behavior and abolishes ketamine's anticonflict effect in mice.
Journal of pharmacological sciences August 1, 2026 Natsuko Hitora-Imamura, Yuki Nishida, Koki Kawazoe et al.
Mice exposed to three weeks of corticosterone showed increased conflict behavior in a three-compartment task, specifically by prolonging action initiation, without signs of anhedonia. Ketamine reduced conflict in control mice but not in corticosterone-treated mice, indicating that chronic stress abolishes ketamine's anticonflict effect. The findings suggest that chronic stress biases conflict-related decision-making and disrupts mechanisms that normally respond to ketamine.