Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System

Seasonal changes in light exposure have profound effects on behavioral and physiological functions in many species, including effects on mood and cognitive function in humans. The mammalian brain’s master circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), transmits information about external light...

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Main Authors: Alessandra Porcu, Malini Riddle, Davide Dulcis, David K. Welsh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5147585
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author Alessandra Porcu
Malini Riddle
Davide Dulcis
David K. Welsh
author_facet Alessandra Porcu
Malini Riddle
Davide Dulcis
David K. Welsh
author_sort Alessandra Porcu
collection DOAJ
description Seasonal changes in light exposure have profound effects on behavioral and physiological functions in many species, including effects on mood and cognitive function in humans. The mammalian brain’s master circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), transmits information about external light conditions to other brain regions, including some implicated in mood and cognition. Although the detailed mechanisms are not yet known, the SCN undergoes highly plastic changes at the cellular and network levels under different light conditions. We therefore propose that the SCN may be an essential mediator of the effects of seasonal changes of day length on mental health. In this review, we explore various forms of neuroplasticity that occur in the SCN and other brain regions to facilitate seasonal adaptation, particularly altered phase distribution of cellular circadian oscillators in the SCN and changes in hypothalamic neurotransmitter expression.
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series Neural Plasticity
spelling doaj-art-9fc8de7416ae43029ed0e8038ce17f4e2025-08-20T02:20:51ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432018-01-01201810.1155/2018/51475855147585Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian SystemAlessandra Porcu0Malini Riddle1Davide Dulcis2David K. Welsh3Department of Psychiatry and Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA MC-0603, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA MC-0603, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA MC-0603, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA MC-0603, USASeasonal changes in light exposure have profound effects on behavioral and physiological functions in many species, including effects on mood and cognitive function in humans. The mammalian brain’s master circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), transmits information about external light conditions to other brain regions, including some implicated in mood and cognition. Although the detailed mechanisms are not yet known, the SCN undergoes highly plastic changes at the cellular and network levels under different light conditions. We therefore propose that the SCN may be an essential mediator of the effects of seasonal changes of day length on mental health. In this review, we explore various forms of neuroplasticity that occur in the SCN and other brain regions to facilitate seasonal adaptation, particularly altered phase distribution of cellular circadian oscillators in the SCN and changes in hypothalamic neurotransmitter expression.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5147585
spellingShingle Alessandra Porcu
Malini Riddle
Davide Dulcis
David K. Welsh
Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System
Neural Plasticity
title Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System
title_full Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System
title_fullStr Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System
title_full_unstemmed Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System
title_short Photoperiod-Induced Neuroplasticity in the Circadian System
title_sort photoperiod induced neuroplasticity in the circadian system
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5147585
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AT davidedulcis photoperiodinducedneuroplasticityinthecircadiansystem
AT davidkwelsh photoperiodinducedneuroplasticityinthecircadiansystem