[Hinews] A research team led by Professor Kyung Jun Park at Pusan National University Hospital’s Department of Nuclear Medicine has demonstrated how seasonal variations in sunlight exposure influence brain glucose metabolism and emotional regulation. Published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms, the study is the first to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying seasonal mood changes at the level of brain metabolism, offering potential insights for depression prevention and treatment.

Conducted over five years in collaboration with Samsung Changwon Hospital, Fudan University in China, and the Turku PET Centre in Finland, the study involved 432 healthy adults who underwent two positron emission tomography (PET) scans to assess seasonal changes in brain glucose metabolism.

Seasonal changes in sunlight exposure directly affect brain glucose metabolism and emotional regulation, according to a new study. (Image: ClipArtKorea)
Seasonal changes in sunlight exposure directly affect brain glucose metabolism and emotional regulation, according to a new study. (Image: ClipArtKorea)

The findings showed that longer daylight hours were associated with significantly increased glucose uptake in brain regions involved in social and emotional processing, including the precuneus, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and frontal pole.These neural circuits showed reduced activity during the shorter daylight of winter and heightened activity during the longer daylight of summer.

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

“Seasonal changes in sunlight exposure have a direct effect on brain function and mood,” said Professor Park. “We hope this research contributes to a deeper understanding of seasonal affective disorder and guides new treatment approaches.”

The study represents an important step in understanding the biological basis of seasonal mood variations and may inform future strategies for managing depression.

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