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Light therapy and serotonin transporter binding in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex
Author(s) -
Harrison S. J.,
Tyrer A. E.,
Levitan R. D.,
Xu X.,
Houle S.,
Wilson A. A.,
Nobrega J. N.,
Rusjan P. M.,
Meyer J. H.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12424
Subject(s) - serotonin transporter , light therapy , anterior cingulate cortex , serotonin , prefrontal cortex , placebo , medicine , mood , biomarker , psychology , mood disorders , crossover study , major depressive disorder , endocrinology , oncology , psychiatry , chemistry , pathology , receptor , cognition , anxiety , biochemistry , alternative medicine
Objective To investigate the effects of light therapy on serotonin transporter binding (5‐ HTT BP ND ), an index of 5‐ HTT levels, in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortices ( ACC and PFC ) of healthy individuals during the fall and winter. Twenty‐five per cent of healthy individuals experience seasonal mood changes that affect functioning. 5‐ HTT BP ND has been found to be higher across multiple brain regions in the fall and winter relative to spring and summer, and elevated 5‐ HTT BP ND may lead to extracellular serotonin loss and low mood. We hypothesized that, during the fall and winter, light therapy would reduce 5‐ HTT BP ND in the ACC and PFC , which sample brain regions involved in mood regulation. Method In a single‐blind, placebo‐controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design, [ 11 C] DASB positron emission tomography was used measure 5‐ HTT BP ND following light therapy and placebo conditions during fall and winter. Results In winter, light therapy significantly decreased 5‐ HTT BP ND by 12% in the ACC relative to placebo ( F 1,9 = 18.04, P = 0.002). In the fall, no significant change in 5‐ HTT BP ND was found in any region across conditions. Conclusion These results identify, for the first time, a central biomarker associated with the intervention of light therapy in humans which may be applied to further develop this treatment for prevention of seasonal depression.