a, Virus injections and mCherry expression. Image adapted from Allen Institute Brain Explorer 2 (http://mouse.brain-map.org/static/brainexplorer). b, Experimental design for vDG inhibition during chronic defeat (10 days). c, Resting membrane potential of hM4Di infected cells (paired t-test, **P=0.004, N=6). Scale bars: 5 mV, 2 min. d, Quantification of c-fos+ cells after chronic defeat (sections 7–12: Interaction F5,40=3.5, *P=0.01; CNO F1,8=6.9, *P=0.03; dorsal-ventral F5,40=1.3, P=0.29; NnoCNO=4, NCNO=6). e, Social interaction time (Interaction F1,35=4.2, *P=0.049; CNO F1,35=2.2, P=0.15; stress F1,35=6.9, *P=0.013; post-hoc test, *P=0.01; N=9, 8, 11, 11). f, Open field center exploration (Interaction F1,35=0.1, P=0.73; CNO F1,35=14.4, ***P=0.0006; stress F1,35=19.2, ***P=0.0001; post-hoc test, control veh vs. CNO, *P=0.03; defeat veh vs. CNO, **P=0.004; N=9, 8, 11, 11). g, Experimental design for vDG excitation during subthreshold defeat (5 days). h, Resting membrane potential of hM3Dq infected cells (paired t-test, **p=0.009, N=6). Scale bars: 5mV, 2min. i, Quantification of c-fos+ cells after subthreshold defeat (sections 7–12: Interaction F5,35=0.15, P=0.98; CNO F1,7=12.3, **P=0.009; dorsal-ventral F5,35=4.8, **P=0.002; NnoCNO=4, NCNO=5). j, Social interaction time (Interaction F1,35=8.4, **P=0.007; CNO F1,35=2.1, P=0.15; stress F1,35=6.9, *P=0.012; post-hoc test, **P=0.003; N=9, 9, 10, 11). k, Open field center exploration (Interaction F1,35=4.7, *P=0.037; CNO F1,35=21.4, ***P<0.0001; stress F1,35=6.6, *P=0.014; post-hoc test, ***P<0.0001; N=9, 9, 10, 11). Error bars, ± s.e.m.