Summary
This neuroimaging study demonstrates that the strength (amplitude) of an individual's diurnal rhythm preference—not just their chronotype (morning vs. evening)—is associated with structural differences in the brain, particularly in the primary visual cortex and middle temporal gyrus. For lighting designers and clinicians, this suggests that personalizing light interventions should consider not only whether someone is a morning or evening type, but also how strongly their mood and cognition fluctuate across the day.
Key Findings
- Grey matter volume and cortical thickness of the left primary visual cortex were negatively correlated with amplitude (AM) scores across the full sample (n=153).
- Early chronotypes (n=79) showed a positive correlation between AM scores and right middle temporal gyrus GM volume, while late chronotypes (n=74) showed a negative correlation—indicating opposite brain-amplitude relationships by chronotype.
- Amplitude of diurnal rhythms was linked to negative affect processing, suggesting extreme diurnal mood/cognition variation is associated with distinct neuroanatomical profiles.
Categories
Sleep & Circadian Health: Examines how the amplitude of diurnal rhythms (strength of chronotype preferences) relates to brain structure, extending beyond simple morningness-eveningness classification.
Mood & Mental Wellness: Links subjective amplitude of diurnal rhythms to negative emotionality and identifies neural correlates in brain regions associated with affect processing.
Author(s)
MR Zareba, P Scislewska, M Fafrowicz, T Marek
Publication Year
2023
Number of Citations
1
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