According to foreign media reports, at present, American scientists have discovered that the mouse brain is responsible for controlling the brain circuits of "hedonia", which will help researchers better understand the brain mechanisms involved in depression and schizophrenia.

　　Anhedonia (Anhedonia) is the loss of the ability to experience pleasure activity. It is a core symptom of some human mental illnesses (such as depression and schizophrenia). However, scientists rarely grasp the brain circuits involved in anhedonia, which hinders Effective medical diagnosis and treatment.

　　Previous brain imaging studies have shown that anhedonia may be related to the medial prefrontal cortex behind the forehead. At present, scientists have conducted experiments on the medial prefrontal cortex of mice. They focused on some nerve cells or brain circuits that respond to dopamine drugs, which are related to the brain. Reward responses are related to organizations. These reward responses include: food, money, and social interaction.

　　These experimental mice have been genetically modified, so that by irradiating light pulses to the brain, their dopamine brain circuits will be stimulated. At the same time, scientists use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor the brain activity of conscious mice.

　　When the researchers used light to stimulate the medial prefrontal cortex, the rats lost their preference for sugar water and tended to reduce social interaction. These two reactions are symptoms of anhedonia.

　　Brain imaging shows that stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex strengthens the interconnectivity of certain areas of the brain, such as the frontal orbital cortex and the ventral striatum. Previous studies have shown that the ventral striatum is related to the reward response area of the brain. In addition, as a result of stimulation experiments, researchers found that some brain regions are more isolated from other parts, including the auditory cortex and post-compression cortex. Previous studies have shown that these brain parts are closely related to human depression and schizophrenia.