Differential effects of corticotropin-releasing factor and acute stress on different forms of risk/reward decision-making

Acute stress differentially alters reward-related decision making and inhibitory control under threat of punishment

“…However, even though stress increased these measures, it did not have a disproportionately greater effect in females. These impairments are in keeping with previous work showing that restraint stress (or increased CRF activity) generally slows reward-related decision latencies, irrespective of whether these stressors alter the direction of choice on different forms of cost/benefit decision making ( Bryce et al, 2020 ; Bryce and Floresco, 2016 , 2021 ; Shafiei et al, 2012 ).…”

“…; delay discounting ( Shafiei et al, 2012 )), suggesting the effects of this form of stress on effort-related choice are not related to reduced tolerance for delays to reward intertwined with effort costs. In a similar vein, neither restraint nor CRF treatment altered preference for larger, uncertain rewards on a probabilistic discounting task ( Bryce et al, 2020 ). However, even though restraint stress did not alter choice biases during either delay or probabilistic discounting, this manipulation did cause more generalized disruptions in task engagement and indecisiveness, as indexed by increased omissions and choice latencies.…”

Risk-based decision making in rats: Modulation by sex and amphetamine

“…The idea that sexhormone regulation of decision making can differ depending on the type of cost associated with larger/preferred rewards is further bolstered by the findings of studies examining how stress affects these processes. Specifically, acute stress can influence certain forms of cost/benefit decision making without affecting others, in that acute stress can reduce preference for larger rewards associated with a greater effort cost, but not those that are delayed or delivered in a probabilistic manner (Shafiei et al, 2012;Bryce and Floresco, 2016;Bryce et al, 2020). Intriguingly, there are examples of sex differences in the effects of acute stress on learning as acute stress facilitates associate learning in males, but impairs it in females (Wood and Shors, 1998).…”

Risk-based Decision Making in Rats: Modulation by Sex and Amphetamine

“…The idea that sex-hormone regulation of decision making can differ depending on the type of cost associated with larger/preferred rewards is further bolstered by the findings of studies examining how stress affects these processes. Specifically, acute stress can influence certain forms of cost/benefit decision making without affecting others, in that it can reduce preference for larger rewards associated with a greater effort cost, but not those that are delayed or delivered in a probabilistic manner (Shafiei et al, 2012;Bryce and Floresco, 2016;Bryce et al, 2020). The present data further highlight that the hormonal and neurochemical modulation of different forms of cost/benefit decision making can vary based on the type of cost being evaluated.…”