[Cover]

In humans, a symptom of the passive coping response can be described as hopelessness, which is a core feature of major depressive disorder (MDD). Exploring the regulatory mechanism of the passive coping response to behavioral challenge could provide new strategies to conquer MDD. Yin et al. found that astrocyte-derived lactate modulates the passive coping response to behavioral challenge. The cover image shows the mouse stealing lamp-oil is trapped in the jar, and a passive state emerges when the mouse finds it is impossible to get out. The smoke arising from the lamp billows into the sky and forms the encephaloid cloud, which mimics what is happening in the brain of this frustrated mouse. The lactate derived from astrocytes spreads to the neuron just like sunlight scattering onto a tree. See pages 1–14. (Cover image provided by Dr. Ya-Nan Yin)