Chronic corticosterone biases conflict-related behavior and abolishes ketamine's anticonflict effect in mice.

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.

Study at a glance

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.