Light as a modulator of emotion and cognition: Lessons learned from studying a diurnal rodent

Hormones and Behavior
L YanA A Nuñez

Abstract

Light profoundly affects the behavior and physiology of almost all animals, including humans. One such effect in humans is that the level of illumination during the day positively contributes to affective well-being and cognitive function. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of daytime light intensity on affect and cognition are poorly understood. One barrier for progress in this area is that almost all laboratory animal models studied are nocturnal. There are substantial differences in how light affects nocturnal and diurnal species, e.g., light induces sleep in nocturnal mammals but wakefulness in diurnal ones, like humans. Therefore, the mechanisms through which light modulates affect and cognition must differ between the chronotypes. To further understand the neural pathways mediating how ambient light modulates affect and cognition, our recent work has developed a diurnal rodent model, the Nile grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus), in which daytime light intensity is chronically manipulated in grass rats housed under the same 12:12 hour light/dark cycle. This simulates lighting conditions during summer-like bright sunny days vs. winter-like dim cloudy days. Our work has revealed that chronic dim daylight int...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 24, 2020·Behavioural Brain Research·Arianna NovatiHuu Phuc Nguyen
Mar 19, 2021·Disease Models & Mechanisms·Anusha Shankar, Cory T Williams
Jul 7, 2021·Translational Psychiatry·Richard McCartySandra J Rosenthal
Oct 30, 2021·Chronobiology International·Carmel BiluHaim Einat

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