Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • CONTENT
    • Early Release
    • Featured
    • Current Issue
    • Issue Archive
    • Collections
    • Podcast
  • ALERTS
  • FOR AUTHORS
    • Information for Authors
    • Fees
    • Journal Clubs
    • eLetters
    • Submit
    • Special Collections
  • EDITORIAL BOARD
    • Editorial Board
    • ECR Advisory Board
    • Journal Staff
  • ABOUT
    • Overview
    • Advertise
    • For the Media
    • Rights and Permissions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Accessibility
  • SUBSCRIBE

User menu

  • Log out
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Neuroscience
  • Log out
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Neuroscience

Advanced Search

Submit a Manuscript
  • HOME
  • CONTENT
    • Early Release
    • Featured
    • Current Issue
    • Issue Archive
    • Collections
    • Podcast
  • ALERTS
  • FOR AUTHORS
    • Information for Authors
    • Fees
    • Journal Clubs
    • eLetters
    • Submit
    • Special Collections
  • EDITORIAL BOARD
    • Editorial Board
    • ECR Advisory Board
    • Journal Staff
  • ABOUT
    • Overview
    • Advertise
    • For the Media
    • Rights and Permissions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Feedback
    • Accessibility
  • SUBSCRIBE
PreviousNext
Brief Communications

Nocturnal Light Exposure Impairs Affective Responses in a Wavelength-Dependent Manner

Tracy A. Bedrosian, Celynn A. Vaughn, Anabel Galan, Ghassan Daye, Zachary M. Weil and Randy J. Nelson
Journal of Neuroscience 7 August 2013, 33 (32) 13081-13087; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5734-12.2013
Tracy A. Bedrosian
Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Celynn A. Vaughn
Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anabel Galan
Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ghassan Daye
Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Zachary M. Weil
Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Randy J. Nelson
Department of Neuroscience, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Life on earth is entrained to a 24 h solar cycle that synchronizes circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior; light is the most potent entraining cue. In mammals, light is detected by (1) rods and cones, which mediate visual function, and (2) intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which primarily project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus to regulate circadian rhythms. Recent evidence, however, demonstrates that ipRGCs also project to limbic brain regions, suggesting that, through this pathway, light may have a role in cognition and mood. Therefore, it follows that unnatural exposure to light may have negative consequences for mood or behavior. Modern environmental lighting conditions have led to excessive exposure to light at night (LAN), and particularly to blue wavelength lights. We hypothesized that nocturnal light exposure (i.e., dim LAN) would induce depressive responses and alter neuronal structure in hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). If this effect is mediated by ipRGCs, which have reduced sensitivity to red wavelength light, then we predicted that red LAN would have limited effects on brain and behavior compared with shorter wavelengths. Additionally, red LAN would not induce c-Fos activation in the SCN. Our results demonstrate that exposure to LAN influences behavior and neuronal plasticity and that this effect is likely mediated by ipRGCs. Modern sources of LAN that contain blue wavelengths may be particularly disruptive to the circadian system, potentially contributing to altered mood regulation.

View Full Text
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of Neuroscience: 33 (32)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 33, Issue 32
7 Aug 2013
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
  • Advertising (PDF)
  • Ed Board (PDF)
Email

Thank you for sharing this Journal of Neuroscience article.

NOTE: We request your email address only to inform the recipient that it was you who recommended this article, and that it is not junk mail. We do not retain these email addresses.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Nocturnal Light Exposure Impairs Affective Responses in a Wavelength-Dependent Manner
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Journal of Neuroscience
(Your Name) thought you would be interested in this article in Journal of Neuroscience.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Print
View Full Page PDF
Citation Tools
Nocturnal Light Exposure Impairs Affective Responses in a Wavelength-Dependent Manner
Tracy A. Bedrosian, Celynn A. Vaughn, Anabel Galan, Ghassan Daye, Zachary M. Weil, Randy J. Nelson
Journal of Neuroscience 7 August 2013, 33 (32) 13081-13087; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5734-12.2013

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Respond to this article
Request Permissions
Share
Nocturnal Light Exposure Impairs Affective Responses in a Wavelength-Dependent Manner
Tracy A. Bedrosian, Celynn A. Vaughn, Anabel Galan, Ghassan Daye, Zachary M. Weil, Randy J. Nelson
Journal of Neuroscience 7 August 2013, 33 (32) 13081-13087; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5734-12.2013
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Materials and Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF

Responses to this article

Respond to this article

Jump to comment:

No eLetters have been published for this article.

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Heteromodal Cortical Areas Encode Sensory-Motor Features of Word Meaning
  • Pharmacologically Counteracting a Phenotypic Difference in Cerebellar GABAA Receptor Response to Alcohol Prevents Excessive Alcohol Consumption in a High Alcohol-Consuming Rodent Genotype
  • Neuromuscular NMDA Receptors Modulate Developmental Synapse Elimination
Show more Brief Communications
  • Home
  • Alerts
  • Follow SFN on BlueSky
  • Visit Society for Neuroscience on Facebook
  • Follow Society for Neuroscience on Twitter
  • Follow Society for Neuroscience on LinkedIn
  • Visit Society for Neuroscience on Youtube
  • Follow our RSS feeds

Content

  • Early Release
  • Current Issue
  • Issue Archive
  • Collections

Information

  • For Authors
  • For Advertisers
  • For the Media
  • For Subscribers

About

  • About the Journal
  • Editorial Board
  • Privacy Notice
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
(JNeurosci logo)
(SfN logo)

Copyright © 2025 by the Society for Neuroscience.
JNeurosci Online ISSN: 1529-2401

The ideas and opinions expressed in JNeurosci do not necessarily reflect those of SfN or the JNeurosci Editorial Board. Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in JNeurosci should not be construed as an endorsement of the manufacturer’s claims. SfN does not assume any responsibility for any injury and/or damage to persons or property arising from or related to any use of any material contained in JNeurosci.