Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
Strain-dependent variations in stress coping behavior are mediated by a 5-HT/GABA interaction within the prefrontal
Diego Andolina1, Dario Maran2, Maria Teresa Viscomi2
1Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy (Drs Andolina, Viscomi, and Puglisi-Allegra); Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Applicate e Biotecnologie, Universita` degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio, L'Aquila, Italy (Dr Andolina); Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro 'Daniel Bovet,' Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy (Drs Maran and Puglisi-Allegra). diego.andolina@gmail.com.
Background:
Serotonin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission is crucial in coping strategies.
Methods:
Here, using mice from 2 inbred strains widely exploited in behavioral neurochemistry, we investigated whether serotonin transmission in medial prefrontal cortex and GABA in basolateral amygdala determine strain-dependent liability to stress response and differences in coping.
Results:
C57BL/6J mice displayed greater immobility in the forced swimming test, higher serotonin outflow in medial prefrontal cortex, higher GABA outflow in basolateral amygdala induced by stress, and higher serotonin 1A receptor levels in medial prefrontal cortex accompanied by lower GABAb receptor levels in basolateral amygdala than DBA/2J mice. In assessing whether serotonin in medial prefrontal cortex determines GABA functioning in response to stress and passive coping behavior in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice, we observed that selective prefrontal serotonin depletion in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J reduced stress-induced GABA outflow in basolateral amygdala and immobility in the forced swimming test.
Conclusions:
These results show that strain-dependent prefrontal corticolimbic serotonin/GABA regulation determines the strain differences in stress-coping behavior in the forced swimming test and point to a role of a specific neuronal system in genetic susceptibility to stress that opens up new prospects for innovative therapies for stress disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Psychological Responses to Stress
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
Stress Response System
Alarm stage
In the alarm stage, the body's...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Components of Stress
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...

