Diurnal variation of brain activity in the human suprachiasmatic nucleus

Author:

Oka Satoshi,Ogawa Akitoshi,Osada Takahiro,Tanaka Masaki,Nakajima Koji,Kamagata Koji,Aoki Shigeki,Oshima Yasushi,Tanaka Sakae,Kirino Eiji,Nakamura Takahiro J.,Konishi Seiki

Abstract

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the central clock for circadian rhythms. Animal studies have revealed daily rhythms in the neuronal activity in the SCN. However, the circadian activity of the human SCN has remained elusive. In this study, to reveal the diurnal variation of the SCN activity in humans, we localized the SCN by employing an areal boundary mapping technique to resting-state functional images and investigated the SCN activity using perfusion imaging. In the first experiment (n = 27, including both sexes), we scanned each participant four times a day, every six hours. Higher activity was observed at noon, while lower activity was recorded in the early morning. In the second experiment (n = 20, including both sexes), the SCN activity was measured every thirty minutes for six hours from midnight to dawn. The results showed that the SCN activity gradually decreased and was not associated with the electroencephalography. Furthermore, the SCN activity was compatible with the rodent SCN activity after switching off the lights. These results suggest that the diurnal variation of the human SCN follows the zeitgeber cycles of nocturnal and diurnal mammals and is modulated by physical lights rather than the local time.Significance StatementThe suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus is the central clock for circadian rhythms in mammals. However, the circadian activity of human SCN remained elusive due to the difficulty of measuring the activity of such a small nucleus. In this study, we localized the human SCN and investigated the SCN activity using an MRI technique for measuring perfusion. We observed SCN activity patterns of higher activity in daylight time and lower at night and morning. We also observed that the human SCN activity gradually decreased during the night, compatible with the rodent SCN activity after switching off the lights. These results suggest that the diurnal variation of human SCN activity is modulated by physical lights rather than the local time.

Funder

MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Takeda Science Foundation

Publisher

Society for Neuroscience

Cited by 3 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3