Stanford University Researchers Induce, Relieve Depression Symptoms in Mice With Light

Among those who suffer from depression, the dual inabilities to experience enjoyment in things once pleasurable and to physically motivate oneself — to meet challenges, or even to get out of bed in the morning — have been documented for decades, though it has been mysterious why these very different kinds of symptoms show up together, and also disappear together when depression is successfully treated. It has been suspected that the brain chemical dopamine could be a key player in the illness. And yet, in the long history of the study of depression, no one has been able to clearly tie these key concepts together, until now.

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