biostudies-literatureUnknownVisocky VIntramural NIH HHS<h4>Background</h4>Life stress modulates decision making, particularly in the face of risk, in some cases prompting vulnerable populations to make suboptimal, life-altering choices. In the brain, stress is known to alter the extracellular release of catecholamines in structures such as basolateral amygdala (BLA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), but the relationship between catecholamines and decision-making behavior under stress has not been systemically explored.<h4>Methods</h4>We developed an operant touchscreen decision-making task for rats comprising elements of loss aversion and risk seeking behavior. Rats were first injected systemically with an adrenergic α2A -receptor agonist (guanfacine) and antagonist (yohimbine), as well as a partial inverse GABA_A agonist, FG 7142, known bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2024.05.09.593389https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11100835biostudies-literatureNoradrenergic modulation of stress induced catecholamine release: Opposing influence of FG7142 and yohimbine.PMC11100835ZIA MH002951ZIC MH002952Turner CJLowrie MHAlibro AChudasama YMessanvi FVisocky VfalseNoradrenergic modulation of stress induced catecholamine release: Opposing influence of FG7142 and yohimbine.<h4>Background</h4>Life stress modulates decision making, particularly in the face of risk, in some cases prompting vulnerable populations to make suboptimal, life-altering choices. In the brain, stress is known to alter the extracellular release of catecholamines in structures such as basolateral amygdala (BLA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), but the relationship between catecholamines and decision-making behavior under stress has not been systemically explored.<h4>Methods</h4>We developed an operant touchscreen decision-making task for rats comprising elements of loss aversion and risk seeking behavior. Rats were first injected systemically with an adrenergic α2A -receptor agonist (guanfacine) and antagonist (yohimbine), as well as a partial inverse GABA_A agonist, FG 7142, known 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jun2026-04-08T13:45:03.535Z2026-04-08T03:17:33.983ZS-EPMC111008353876601110.1101/2024.05.09.593389