Palmitic acid, a natural product isolated and purified from the herbs of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., induces down-regulation of APOM expression and anxiety-like behavior in mice while increasing amygdala-based serotonin metabolism. Palmitic acid has a significant impact on proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in vitro and may be useful for elucidating the role of SFAs in regulating NSCs fate in physiological and pathological settings.