Daily Timekeeping, Photic Processing, and Photoperiodic Encoding by the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2023
Daily and seasonal rhythms are programmed by neural circuits that anticipate predictable changes in the environment (i.e., temperature, food, predation). The time and duration of daily light exposure is a strategic cue used to predict changes in the environment that determine fitness and survival. Light is transduced by a specialized visual system that serves as an irradiance detector. These inputs are processed and encoded by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which serves as the body’s daily clock and annual calendar. The SCN encodes time-of-day and photoperiod to regulate downstream systems via multiple routes (e.g., melatonin, cortisol, feeding, body temperature). A deeper understanding of SCN timekeeping circuits, photoperiodic encoding mechanisms, and light-driven cellular adaptations is imperative for understanding plasticity and pathology in multiple biological systems.
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