"Nature and Nurture in Rhythms and Blues: Circadian Photoperiod Shapes the Developing Visual-Circadian-Serotonergic Neuraxis," will be presented by Doug McMahon of Vanderbilt University at 4 p.m., Oct. 15 in E103 Beadle Center. The seminar is free and open to the public.
Light as an environmental and neural stimulus transduced through the retina can have profound effects in shaping the development and maturation of light-driven brain circuits. Recently McMahon's laboratory has examined how the day length, or circadian photoperiod, experienced during development may have enduring effects on the properties of the brain's 24 clock, the serotonergic nuclei of the mid-brain and on the retina itself.
Circadian photoperiod influences mood and mood disorders in humans as well as depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in animal models; however, the neurobiological basis for the photoperiodic regulation of affective behaviors is not known. McMahon's results indicate that photoperiod has pervasive and lasting effects on brain systems that regulate mood, rhythms and visual perception.
The Beadle Center is located at 1901 Vine Street. The complete schedule of seminars may be found at http://biotech.unl.edu/.