Fig. 1.

The Stress Alternatives Model (SAM) results in phenotype establishment after two days of social stress. A) The SAM is a 4-day paradigm in which test mice are conditioned to a tone (middle) before an opaque cylinder is lifted and animals must decide whether to Escape from (left) or submit to (Stay, right) a large social aggressor. By the end of Day 2, test mice commit to the Escape or Stay behavioral phenotype. B) Experimental design for behavioral trials include stereotaxic surgeries for cannula implantation followed by a recovery and handling period before the beginning of the SAM. On Day 3, 1 h before SAM exposure, mice were administered Orx receptor targeting drugs into the BLA. Following SAM social interaction on Day 4, mice were exposed to the Open Field (OF) Test and on Day 5 they were introduced to the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM).