Virus-mediated overexpression of REDD1 in the rat PFC is sufficient to cause anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and neuronal atrophy.199 According to postmortem studies, the volume of the dlPFC is smaller and the density of neurons in the dlPFC is lower in MDD.200 BDNF can modulate synaptic plasticity in the brain. The gene discussed is BDNF; the disease is major depressive disorder.