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Raphe nucleus encephalopathy (myalgic encephalomyelitis, epidemic neuromyasthenia).

Maurizi, C P·Medical hypotheses·1985

This 1985 paper proposes that ME/CFS may be caused by damage to a specific brain region called the dorsal raphe nucleus, potentially triggered by Coxsackie B viruses. The symptoms of ME/CFS match what doctors would expect to see if serotonin levels were too low in this area of the brain. The authors suggest that stress and nutritional deficiencies in tryptophan (a building block for serotonin) may make the condition more likely to develop.