[Hinews] A new study led by Professor Kyung Jun Park of Pusan National University Hospital’s Department of Nuclear Medicine reveals how seasonal changes in sunlight affect brain glucose metabolism and emotional regulation. Published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms, the study is the first to identify biological mechanisms linking seasonal mood changes to brain metabolism, offering new insights into depression prevention and treatment.

Seasonal changes in sunlight exposure directly influence brain glucose metabolism and emotional function, researchers found. (Image: ClipArtKorea)
Seasonal changes in sunlight exposure directly influence brain glucose metabolism and emotional function, researchers found. (Image: ClipArtKorea)

Over a five-year period, researchers from Samsung Changwon Hospital, Fudan University in China, and Finland’s Turku PET Centre collaborated to study 432 healthy adults. Participants underwent positron emission tomography (PET) scans to measure seasonal changes in brain glucose metabolism. The results showed that longer daylight hours were linked to higher glucose uptake in brain regions involved in social and emotional processing, such as the precuneus, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and frontal pole. These brain circuits were less active during winter’s short days and more active during summer’s extended daylight periods.

Professor Kyung Jun Park, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital.
Professor Kyung Jun Park, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital.


“Changes in sunlight exposure across seasons directly affect brain function and mood,” said Professor Park. “This research lays a foundation for understanding and treating seasonal affective disorder.”

The study confirms a neurobiological link between environmental light exposure and brain activity, paving the way for targeted approaches to treating mood disorders affected by seasonal changes.

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#SeasonalAffectiveDisorder#BrainMetabolism#PusanNationalUniversityHospital
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