Psychoneuroendocrinology · 7 authors, 3 centres
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This study used behavioral tests in male rats to show that chronic treatment with the stress hormone corticosterone induces negative decision-making biases and impaired reward learning, effects that depend on the drug being active during the task.
This preclinical study investigated the neuropsychological and reward-related effects of chronic corticosterone (CORT) treatment in male rats, a model for chronic stress-induced depression. Using the judgement bias task (JBT), the researchers found that chronic CORT treatment induced a negative bias in decision-making, but only when administered shortly before each behavioral session; administration after sessions had no effect. Chronic CORT treatment also impaired reward learning in the reward learning assay (RLA) and reduced reward sensitivity in the sucrose preference test (SPT). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed reduced hippocampal neurogenesis, as indicated by lower DCX expression in the dentate gyrus. The findings suggest that chronic CORT induces long-lasting negative affective biases and reward-related deficits, which require the acute neuropsychological effects of the drug during task experience, highlighting an interaction between biological and psychological factors.
