Long-term stress hormone changes behavior in conflict situations and stops ketamine from reducing conflict in mice

Three weeks of corticosterone exposure increased conflict levels in mice without inducing anhedonia.

• Chronic corticosterone exposure selectively prolonged action initiation in conflict scenarios.
• Ketamine reduced conflict behavior in control mice but failed to do so in corticosterone-treated mice.
• Stress may disrupt ketamine's ability to influence conflict-related behavior.
• Findings indicate that chronic stress alters decision-making processes related to reward and danger.

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