The dim light will make people become stupid? The study says......

According to the "Hippocampus" a study published in the journal shows that the structure in the dark environment may change the brain long-term stay, hurt our ability of learning and memory.

Researchers led by Dr. Yan Lily of the Michigan State University will be the African grass mouse (Arvicanthis niloticus) exposed to dim light 4 weeks after the brain research.

The results showed that the important brain area for learning and memory in the brain to lose the ability of about 30% space missions and train before they have also performed poorly.

On the other hand, in the light of the animal exposure in spatial task showed significant improvement.

In addition, the previously exposed in the light exposed around the dim light grass mouse, their brains and task performance fully restored.

Partner Antonio professor Nunez said: "when we put the mice exposed to dim light, cloudy winter or imitate the American Midwest is a typical indoor lighting, the animal in spatial learning shows damage."

"It's like people spent a few hours in the shopping center or the cinema, in a busy parking lot to find the car."

"Prolonged exposure to dim light will lead to a called brain-derived neurotrophic factor substances and dendrites (or neurons to communicate with each other) decreased significantly."

"Because the number of neuronal connections is reduced, resulting in a decline in the ability of learning and memory. In other words, the dim light makes us stupid."

Interestingly, the light does not directly affect the hippocampus (Note: located between the thalamus and brain hippocampus, medial temporal lobe is mainly responsible for the storage and conversion of memory orientation functions long), which means that other parts of the light through the eyes after the first act on the brain.

Lily Yan said: "we are working on a potential point of rodent animal in the brain, that is in a group of neurons, these neurons produce a called orexin peptides, the peptides will affect many brain functions."

"One of the main research question is: if we give orexin prior to exposure to dim light mouse, their brains do not need re exposure to light can be restored?"

The project may have an impact on the elderly, glaucoma, retinal degeneration or cognitive impairment patients.

Lily Yan said: "for those who do not receive too much light ophthalmocace patients, whether we can directly manipulate this group of neurons in the brain, around the eyes, provide the same benefits brought by light for them?"

"One possibility is to improve cognitive function in the elderly and in patients with nervous system diseases. Whether we can help them recover from damage or prevent its further decline?" (compiled: LED James)

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