Could Nighttime Lights Be Making You Feel Down? 🌃
Hey there! Have you ever stayed up late playing on your tablet or smartphone? 😴 Well, scientists have found that too much artificial light at night—like the blue light from screens or streetlights—might make you feel sad or moody.
Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China did a study with tree shrews, which are cute animals that are active during the day, just like us! 🐿️ They exposed these animals to blue light for two hours every night for three weeks.
After that, the tree shrews started showing signs of feeling down. They didn’t enjoy sweet treats as much (a 20% drop in liking sugar water!), explored less, and even had trouble remembering things. 😕
But here’s the interesting part! The scientists discovered a special pathway in the brain that gets activated by the nighttime light. They found that certain cells in the eyes send signals to a part of the brain called the perihabenular nucleus (that’s a big word, but think of it as a tiny control center in your brain 🧠). This area then connects to another part involved in mood regulation.
When the researchers stopped this pathway, the animals didn’t feel as down anymore, even with the blue light! This means that the light was affecting their mood through this specific brain connection.
So, why does this matter to us? 🤔 In today’s world, we are often surrounded by bright lights at night—like streetlights, TVs, and our favorite gadgets. This study suggests that too much light at night might affect how we feel.
Professor Yao Yonggang from the research team said, “These findings give us both a warning and a roadmap. The same light that lets us be active at night might be changing how our brains handle mood—but now we know where to look for solutions.”
So next time, maybe it’s a good idea to dim the lights and put away the screens before bedtime. Your brain (and mood) might thank you! 😊
Reference(s):
Study finds link between nighttime artificial light and depression
cgtn.com
