Both STAT3 and pSTAT3 have been shown to be localized to synaptic sites in the hippocampus and cortex (Murata et al., 2000) and, independent of nuclear localization, to play a role in long-term depression, a form of synaptic plasticity essential for normal CNS function (Nicolas et al., 2012). Here, STAT3 is linked to depressive symptom measurement.