These control experiments not only argue for the requirement of optogenetic activation of Hoxb8 microglia in the BLA and CeA being critical for the induction of anxiety, but also that laser exposure did not inflict significant damage to the cells within these brain regions, since the behavior of the control mice in the open and closed arms was not affected by equivalent laser stimulation in terms of both laser power and duration of laser exposure. The gene discussed is HOXB8; the disease is Anxiety.