The Y-maze barrier task is a behavior test that examines motivation to expend effort for reward. Here, we discuss testing multiple well-validated chronic stressors including chronic corticosterone and social defeat stress with this behavior, as well as the novel chronic non-discriminatory social defeat stress (CNSDS), which is effective in females.
Dieterich, A., Yohn, C. N., Samuels, B. A. Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice. J. Vis. Exp. (162), e61548, doi:10.3791/61548 (2020).