![]() ![]() Blue light from the sun is strongest during the day. Melanopsin responds most strongly to blue light. This third class of photoreceptors express melanopsin which makes them highly photosensitive and allow them to perform non-image-forming functions, including circadian phototransduction- the cellular process that turns light into electrical signals. The third type are called intrinsically photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). ![]() ![]() The first two, rods and cones, form most of our vision. We use three types of photoreceptors to detect light. These systems are so important that increasing evidence shows their disruption can lead to certain cancers, metabolic dysfunction, and mood disorders. The processes that the circadian rhythm regulates include sleep-wake behavior, hormone secretion, cellular function, and gene expression. In humans, the circadian rhythm synchronizes certain behavioral and biological processes through a daily cycle, partly regulated by sunlight. They respond primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment.” The National Institute for General Medical Sciences describes circadian rhythm as “physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. These include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine Disruption to the expression of these neurotransmitters is believed to lead to depressed mood. Likewise, monoamine (which is expressed by ipRGCs) is made up of some of the most important neurotransmitters targeted by modern medicine in the treatment of depression. In fact, studies have shown structural changes to the brain in patients with severe circadian disruption, such as international flight attendants. The systems that are indirectly connected to light and linked to mood disorders include disruption of sleep, brain plasticity, neurotransmission, hormone secretion, and gene expression. (Think, does a sunny day make you feel happy?) However, it is the indirect connection to certain systems that, when disrupted, are believed to contribute to mood disorders. When one of our three types of photoreceptors, ipRGCs, directly respond to light, their projections reach certain brain regions that affect emotion. There are both direct and indirect connections between light and mood. What is causing it, however, is complicated.įrom diet and exercise electronics and social media - the changes in our environment and behavior over the past decade are undeniable.Īnd while there is endless information about the way diet and exercise affect our mental health, scientists are only beginning to understand the role of electronic light in development of mood disorders. This sharp increase of reported symptoms is concerning. The American Academy of Pediatrics published one of these studies in 2016 titled “National Trends in the Prevalence and Treatment of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults.” Among the surprising findings, the results showed a 37% increase of reported mood disorder symptoms among young people over a nine-year period. Science is beginning to show that mood disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. ![]()
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