A circadian rhythm-gated subcortical pathway for nighttime-light-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice.
Abstract
Besides generating vision, light modulates various physiological functions, including mood. While light therapy applied in the daytime is known to have anti-depressive properties, excessive light exposure at night has been reportedly associated with depressive symptoms. The neural mechanisms underlying this day-night difference in the effects of light are unknown. Using a light-at-night (LAN) paradigm in mice, we showed that LAN induced depressive-like behaviors without disturbing the circadian rhythm. This effect was mediated by a neural pathway from retinal melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells to the dorsal perihabenular nucleus (dpHb) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Importantly, the dpHb was gated by the circadian rhythm, being more excitable at night than during the day. This indicates that the ipRGC→dpHb→NAc pathway preferentially conducts light signals at night, thereby mediating LAN-induced depressive-like behaviors. These findings may be relevant when considering the mental health effects of the prevalent nighttime illumination in the industrial world.
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An increasing body of research suggests that exposure to blue light at night may increase the risk of developing depression.
“Nevertheless, an increasing body of research suggests that exposure to blue light at night may increase the risk of developing depression, presenting a completely opposite conclusion.[16–18]”
From Effectiveness of visible light for seasonal affective disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- An, K., Zhao, H., Miao, Y., Xu, Q., Li, Y.-F., Ma, Y.-Q., Shi, Y.-M., Shen, J.-W., Meng, J.-J., Yao, Y.-G., Zhang, Z., Chen, J.-T., Bao, J., Zhang, M., & Xue, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Hefei University (CN)
- Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Kunming Institute of Zoology (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Zhao, Huan
- Xue, Tian
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2020-06-01
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 869-880
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W3031637304
- Cited by
- 176
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 11.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- light at night, depression-like behavior, circadian rhythm, nucleus accumbens, retinal ganglion cells, melanopsin, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, mood regulation, nocturnal light exposure, subcortical pathways
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Circadian Rhythm, Depression, Light, Nucleus Accumbens, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Visual Pathways, Habenula, Mice
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