How daylight patterns shape brain chemicals for mood
Photoperiodic Programming of Monoamine Brain Circuits
This project explores how changes in daylight affect brain chemistry to influence mood and behavior, especially for people with mood disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11120951 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our brains are constantly shaped by environmental signals, like the amount of daylight we experience each day. This project looks at how these daily light cycles, which change with the seasons, can alter important brain circuits that control our mood. We are focusing on specific brain cells that use serotonin, a chemical linked to mood, and how their activity changes in response to different light patterns. Understanding these changes could help us learn more about conditions like bipolar disorder and other mood-related challenges.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with affective disorders, including bipolar disorder, could eventually benefit from the insights gained from this fundamental research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not related to environmental light cues or brain monoamine circuits may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and potentially treat mood disorders by targeting how light influences brain chemistry.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown that seasonal light changes affect brain serotonin neurons and related behaviors, suggesting this approach builds on existing knowledge.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcmahon, Douglas G — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Mcmahon, Douglas G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.