Influence of a chronic ultramild stress procedure on decision-making in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To test the influence of a chronic ultra mild stress (CUMS) procedure, based solely on socio-environmental stressors, on cognitive-behavioural function in mice.


METHODS
Behavioural study.


METHODS
B6D2F1 mice.


METHODS
Mice were exposed to various stressors and then tested using a decision-making task.


RESULTS
We observed that stress facilitated "choice" behaviour, with an absence of "no choice" behaviour. Stress also facilitated a more rapid capacity to process information, a decrease in the level of evaluation of the choice situation and less hesitation. These stress-related consequences on decision making may be attributed to a higher level of distractability in the stressed mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The CUMS model may be useful for the study of stress-related disorders by proposing a new method for assessing gene-environment interactions in cognitive-affective behaviours.
Pardon
M C
MC
Université Paris VI, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, France.
Pérez-Diaz
F
F
Joubert
C
C
Cohen-Salmon
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*