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Seasonality in human cognitive brain responses.
Christelle Meyer1, Vincenzo Muto2, Mathieu Jaspar2
1GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
Human brain activity shows seasonal rhythms, impacting cognitive tasks differently throughout the year. This study reveals process-specific seasonality in brain function, affecting sustained attention and working memory performance annually.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Organisms exhibit circadian and seasonal adaptations to environmental cycles.
- Human brain physiology's response to seasonal variations remains largely unexplored.
- Understanding these rhythms is crucial for cognitive and affective health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate annual rhythms in human brain activity.
- To assess how seasonal changes influence cognitive task performance.
- To identify process-specific seasonal patterns in brain function.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of healthy young adults.
- Controlled environment free of seasonal cues for 4.5 days.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during sustained attention and working memory tasks.
Main Results:
- Brain responses to cognitive tasks significantly varied across seasons.
- Distinct annual rhythm phases were observed for different cognitive tasks.
- Sustained attention peaked in summer; working memory peaked around the autumn equinox.
Conclusions:
- Human cognitive brain function exhibits previously unrecognized process-specific seasonality.
- Annual brain activity rhythms can influence intraindividual cognitive performance.
- Seasonal variations may impact affective control, particularly in vulnerable individuals.
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