Your Brain On... Sunlight

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May 29, 2024

Unraveling the impact of sunlight on our brains: from serotonin production for alertness to melatonin release for sleep. Explore the benefits of Vitamin D, disruptions in our circadian rhythm, and how light therapies can combat cognitive decline. Join experts as they discuss the evolutionary link between sunlight exposure and our health.

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INSIGHT

Circadian Rhythms' Impact

Circadian rhythms, meaning "about a day," optimize our metabolism and repair processes.
These rhythms affect brain chemicals, synaptic plasticity, and detoxification during sleep, impacting mental and physical health.

ANECDOTE

Cave Experiment

Researchers studied volunteers living in caves without day-night cues.
Surprisingly, their sleep-wake cycles persisted, revealing an internal biological clock.

INSIGHT

The Biological Clock

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus receives light signals from the retina.
The SCN regulates melatonin production, influencing our sleep-wake cycle.

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Sunlight has kept our brains on a 24-hour schedule for hundreds of thousands of years. Here's how.

When sunlight touches your skin or hits your eyes, your brain ups the production of serotonin, to make you feel alert. And when night falls, your brain switches to releasing melatonin, so you know it's time to sleep. So when we don't get enough sunlight, our biological cycles can start to break.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Vitamin D is made, and what benefits it has for your brain health

• The evolutionary complexities of your circadian rhythm, and how it's been thrown into chaos by modern life

• What happens to our mental health when winter shortens daylight hours

• How light therapies can help people living in cloudier climates to protect their cognitive health

• The association between not getting enough sunlight and developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia

We're joined by Population Health Science and Policy scientist and 'lighting researcher' Dr. Mariana Figueiro to discuss how light-emulating technologies can help simulate sunlight in darker spaces during gloomier times of year.

And Dr. Satchin Panda, leading expert in the field of circadian rhythm research and a founder of the Center for Circadian Biology at the University of California, to dive deep into the neurological intricacies of our 24-hour body clock.

'Your Brain On' is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

Drs. Ayesha and Dean are now welcoming patients via the Brain Health Institute: https://brainhealthinstitute.com/

'Your Brain On... Sunlight' • SEASON 2 • EPISODE 5

LINKS:

Dr. Mariana Figueiro:

at The Center for Health Design: https://www.healthdesign.org/experts/mariana-figueiro-phd

TED Talk: https://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=293012

Dr. Satchin Panda:

at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies: https://www.salk.edu/scientist/satchidananda-panda/

on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satchin.panda

Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

Instagram: @thebraindocs

Website: TheBrainDocs.com

More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast