- Jan 8, 2011
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Source [Paywall]: A circadian rhythm-gated subcortical pathway for nighttime-light-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice
read://https_www.dailymail.co.uk/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle-8377011%2FStaring-phone-screen-bed-make-depressed.html
for new Microsoft Edge.Staring at your smartphone or tablet screen when you should be sleeping could be making you DEPRESSED, scientists claim
The research team found that mice exposed to blue light for two hours a night over a few weeks started showing depressive-like behaviour.
- Blue LED light from smartphones, tablets and laptops can harm the eye's retina
- Scientists have identified a neural 'depressive' pathway triggered by blue light
- About two hours of blue light at night for weeks can cause depressive behaviour
- Lab trials suggest blocking brain signals triggered by light can alter this however
But by blocking brain signals that are triggered by blue light at night, the mice no longer showed behavioural changes.
The neural pathway responsible for this phenomenon may provide insight into how exposure to excessive light at night time affects humans.
Source [Paywall]: A circadian rhythm-gated subcortical pathway for nighttime-light-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice