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Melatonin: A New Probe in Psychiatric Investigation?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

J. Arendt
J. Arendt*
Affiliation:
Reader in Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH
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Extract

The pineal gland, Descartes' seat of the soul, was variously considered until recently as a somewhat mysterious vestigial organ, or simply a good neuroradiological marker. The former point of view arose partly out of ignorance and the curious mythical associations related to its function as a ‘third eye’ in some lower vertebrates. The latter is due to the calcification which is present in most adult human pineal glands.

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Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 5 , November 1989 , pp. 585 - 590
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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