{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T05:15:04Z","timestamp":1783401304953,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":92,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783382400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cognitive impairment is a core and debilitating symptom of depression that severely impacts long-term patient prognosis and functional recovery. As a non-invasive physical intervention method, Light Therapy (LT) holds considerable therapeutic promise in improving the cognitive function of patients with depression. This review synthesizes clinical and preclinical evidence to delineate the complete mechanistic pathway of LT from the reception of peripheral light signals to the remodeling of central brain functions, that is, the regulatory pathway \u201cfrom retinal projections to neuroplasticity.\u201d We first summarize clinical efficacy and its parameter dependence. We then detail the retinofugal projections via intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) to key brain regions such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the limbic system (e.g., amygdala, raphe nucleus) and the thalamus, and their role as the \u201cneural highway\u201d for light signal transmission. Finally, we elucidate how these pathways converge to induce neuroplastic changes such as hippocampal neurogenesis, prefrontal synaptic remodeling, up-regulation of neurotrophic factors, neural oscillation entrainment and inhibition of neuroinflammation. By proposing an integrative \u201cperipheral input-central processing-functional output\u201d model, this review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding LT\u2019s long-range brain regulation and a foundation for its precise clinical application.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2026.1768810","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T04:24:18Z","timestamp":1783398258000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Research progress on the neural mechanism of light therapy improving cognitive function in depression: from retinal projections to neuroplasticity"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Mengying","family":"Lin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]},{"name":"Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, Zhejiang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haihua","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Weiwei","family":"Xie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tingting","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ling","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiangping","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]},{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuanzhi","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University","place":["Ningbo, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1611","DOI":"10.1021\/acschemneuro.3c00828","article-title":"Not just a mood disorder\u2500is depression a neurodevelopmental, cognitive disorder? Focus on prefronto-thalamic circuits","volume":"15","author":"Soto","year":"2024","journal-title":"ACS Chem Neurosci"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbi.2020.08.030","article-title":"Investigating whether depressed youth exhibiting elevated C reactive protein perform worse on measures of executive functioning, verbal fluency and episodic memory in a large, population based sample of Dutch adolescents","volume":"94","author":"Mac Giollabhui","year":"2021","journal-title":"Brain Behav Immun"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.3233\/nre-192972","article-title":"Predictors of longitudinal depression trajectories after traumatic brain injury in Latin America: a multi-site study","volume":"46","author":"Cariello","year":"2020","journal-title":"NeuroRehabilitation"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12346","DOI":"10.1111\/appy.12346","article-title":"Cognitive dysfunction in Malaysian patients with major depressive disorder: a subgroup analysis of a multicountry, cross-sectional study","volume":"11","author":"Zainal","year":"2019","journal-title":"Asia Pac Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.1038\/mp.2014.76","article-title":"Plasma biosignature and brain pathology related to persistent cognitive impairment in late-life depression","volume":"20","author":"Diniz","year":"2015","journal-title":"Mol Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jagp.2017.11.004","article-title":"Late-life depressive symptoms as partial mediators in the associations between subclinical cardiovascular disease with onset of mild cognitive impairment and dementia","volume":"26","author":"Armstrong","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am J Geriatr Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123593","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jns.2025.123593","article-title":"Subjective cognitive function in individuals with multiple sclerosis: associations with objective cognitive function, anxiety, depression, and fatigue","volume":"475","author":"Glanz","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Neurol Sci"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2019.00085","article-title":"Bright light as a personalized precision treatment of mood disorders","volume":"10","author":"Maruani","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Psych"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2020.113247","article-title":"Light therapy in non-seasonal depression: an update meta-analysis","volume":"291","author":"Tao","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1007\/s12264-018-0210-1","article-title":"The antidepressant effect of light therapy from retinal projections","volume":"34","author":"Li","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neurosci Bull"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3255","DOI":"10.2147\/ndt.S188906","article-title":"Transcranial photobiomodulation for the management of depression: current perspectives","volume":"15","author":"Askalsky","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1515\/revneuro-2016-0087","article-title":"The potential of transcranial photobiomodulation therapy for treatment of major depressive disorder","volume":"28","author":"Salehpour","year":"2017","journal-title":"Rev Neurosci"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21m14226","DOI":"10.4088\/JCP.21m14226","article-title":"Very low-level transcranial photobiomodulation for major depressive disorder: the ELATED-3 multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial","volume":"83","author":"Iosifescu","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Clin Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12957","DOI":"10.1111\/phpp.12957","article-title":"Efficacy of transcranial photobiomodulation in the treatment for major depressive disorder: a TMS-EEG and pilot study","volume":"40","author":"Hao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3091","DOI":"10.2147\/ndt.S180321","article-title":"Efficacy of light therapy on nonseasonal depression among elderly adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"Chang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103498","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13226982","article-title":"Light therapy for older people with depressive symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"13","author":"Seok","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1037","DOI":"10.1016\/j.euroneuro.2016.03.001","article-title":"Light therapy in the treatment of patients with bipolar depression: a meta-analytic study","volume":"26","author":"Tseng","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur Neuropsychopharmacol"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2017.09.038","article-title":"Clinical efficacy, onset time and safety of bright light therapy in acute bipolar depression as an adjunctive therapy: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"227","author":"Zhou","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100483","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijchp.2024.100483","article-title":"Bright light therapy-induced improvements of mood, cognitive functions and cerebellar functional connectivity in subthreshold depression: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"24","author":"Chen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Clin Health Psychol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"936489","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2022.936489","article-title":"Phototherapy for cognitive function in patients with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"Zhu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8730","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-35689-1","article-title":"Impact of repeated morning bright white light exposures on attention in a simulated office environment","volume":"13","author":"Canazei","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108845","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsycho.2024.108845","article-title":"Acute effects of light during daytime on central aspects of attention and affect: a systematic review","volume":"192","author":"Bjerrum","year":"2024","journal-title":"Biol Psychol"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"811771","DOI":"10.3389\/fnins.2022.811771","article-title":"Chronotype, circadian rhythm, and psychiatric disorders: recent evidence and potential mechanisms","volume":"16","author":"Zou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Neurosci"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17m11856","DOI":"10.4088\/JCP.17m11856","article-title":"Appetitive symptoms differentially predict treatment response to fluoxetine, light, and placebo in nonseasonal major depression","volume":"79","author":"Levitan","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Clin Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"370","DOI":"10.1080\/01612840.2018.1437648","article-title":"Bright light therapy to treat depression in individuals with mild\/moderate or severe dementia","volume":"39","author":"Onega","year":"2018","journal-title":"Issues Ment Health Nurs"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0327349","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0327349","article-title":"Selective activation of ip RGC modulates working memory performance","volume":"20","author":"Suzuki","year":"2025","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2025.03.123","article-title":"Efficacy evaluation and facial expressions biomarker of light therapy in youths with subthreshold depression: a randomized control trial study","volume":"380","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.7150\/thno.104502","article-title":"Photobiomodulation: shining a light on depression","volume":"15","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Theranostics"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1080\/10253890.2020.1741543","article-title":"The effects of light exposure on the cortisol stress response in human males","volume":"24","author":"Petrowski","year":"2021","journal-title":"Stress"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.66.1.3","article-title":"Blue light damages retinal ganglion cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in chickens","volume":"66","author":"Pan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e10282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2022.e10282","article-title":"A review of the current state of research on artificial blue light safety as it applies to digital devices","volume":"8","author":"Wong","year":"2022","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"729","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23020729","article-title":"Photic entrainment of the circadian system","volume":"23","author":"Ashton","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1038\/s41583-023-00788-5","article-title":"The cognitive impact of light: illuminating ip RGC circuit mechanisms","volume":"25","author":"Mahoney","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat Rev Neurosci"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11020448","article-title":"Multi-level processes and retina-brain pathways of photic regulation of mood","volume":"11","author":"Maruani","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2020.10.023","article-title":"A visual circuit related to the nucleus reuniens for the spatial-memory-promoting effects of light treatment","volume":"109","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"350","DOI":"10.1007\/s12264-023-01089-8","article-title":"A comprehensive overview of the neural mechanisms of light therapy","volume":"40","author":"Huang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Neurosci Bull"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6652","DOI":"10.1111\/ejn.16582","article-title":"GABAergic signalling in the suprachiasmatic nucleus is required for coherent circadian rhythmicity","volume":"60","author":"Klett","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur J Neurosci"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1783","DOI":"10.1111\/ejn.15085","article-title":"Transgenic rats expressing dominant negative BMAL1 showed circadian clock amplitude reduction and rapid recovery from jet lag","volume":"53","author":"Minami","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur J Neurosci"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"678","DOI":"10.2174\/0115672050381989250626071304","article-title":"Mapping the connection between circadian rhythms, metabolism, and neurodegeneration: exploring therapeutic strategies","volume":"22","author":"Bhaskar","year":"2025","journal-title":"Curr Alzheimer Res"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychires.2025.08.001","article-title":"The relationship between the circadian protein PER and adolescent depression: the mediating effect of aberrant functional connectivity of suprachiasmatic nucleus-orbitofrontal cortex","volume":"190","author":"Guo","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Psychiatr Res"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.2174\/0115665240315801250127113448","article-title":"Detailed review of melatonin and its role in managing the symptoms of depression","volume":"26","author":"Dedmari","year":"2026","journal-title":"Curr Mol Med"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"138091","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neulet.2024.138091","article-title":"Sleep deprivation activated AMPK\/FOXO3a signaling mediates pineal autophagy impairment to reduce melatonin secretion in CUMS + SD rats leading to depression combined with insomnia","volume":"848","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Neurosci Lett"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1076","DOI":"10.1159\/000533151","article-title":"Circadian clock genes are regulated by rhythmic corticosterone at physiological levels in the rat hippocampus","volume":"113","author":"Bering","year":"2023","journal-title":"Neuroendocrinology"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6238989","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/6238989","article-title":"Clocking in time to gate memory processes: the circadian clock is part of the ins and outs of memory","volume":"2018","author":"Rawashdeh","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neural Plast"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1385908","DOI":"10.3389\/fncir.2024.1385908","article-title":"Circadian rhythm mechanism in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and its relation to the olfactory system","volume":"18","author":"Tsuno","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Neural Circuits"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2025","DOI":"10.1007\/s12264-025-01456-7","article-title":"Suprachiasmatic nucleus vasoactive intestinal peptide neurons mediate light-induced transient forgetting","volume":"41","author":"Su","year":"2025","journal-title":"Neurosci Bull"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8828183","DOI":"10.1155\/sci\/8828183","article-title":"Ip RGCs sensitive blue light exposure promotes the robustness of circadian and neural stem cells in sleep deprived conditions","volume":"2025","author":"Bu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Stem Cells Int"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"RP96576","DOI":"10.7554\/eLife.96576","article-title":"Regional response to light illuminance across the human hypothalamus","volume":"13","author":"Campbell","year":"2024","journal-title":"eLife"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1007\/s12035-011-8214-0","article-title":"Serotonin and prefrontal cortex function: neurons, networks, and circuits","volume":"44","author":"Puig","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mol Neurobiol"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2018.08.004","article-title":"Light affects mood and learning through distinct retina-brain pathways","volume":"175","author":"Fernandez","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"414","DOI":"10.1038\/s42003-023-04765-7","article-title":"Moderate white light exposure enhanced spatial memory retrieval by activating a central amygdala-involved circuit in mice","volume":"6","author":"Shang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Commun Biol"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0252350","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0252350","article-title":"Afraid of the dark: light acutely suppresses activity in the human amygdala","volume":"16","author":"McGlashan","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"625443","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2021.625443","article-title":"Exposure to blue","volume":"12","author":"Alkozei","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Neurol"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"184","DOI":"10.1080\/19585969.2025.2503367","article-title":"Effects of light therapy on amygdala connectivity and serotoninergic system in young adults with subthreshold depression","volume":"27","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Dialogues Clin Neurosci"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14413","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms14413","article-title":"Amygdala-hippocampal dynamics during salient information processing","volume":"8","author":"Zheng","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"614","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsych.2025.06.029","article-title":"Shedding light on brain function and mood: a role for the retinoraphe pathway in regulating serotonin","volume":"99","author":"Vitkute","year":"2026","journal-title":"Biol Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"26060","DOI":"10.1038\/srep26060","article-title":"ON and OFF retinal ganglion cells differentially regulate serotonergic and GABAergic activity in the dorsal raphe nucleus","volume":"6","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14908","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms14908","article-title":"A retinoraphe projection regulates serotonergic activity and looming-evoked defensive behaviour","volume":"8","author":"Huang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"350","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-018-08256-w","article-title":"A brain-wide functional map of the serotonergic responses to acute stress and fluoxetine","volume":"10","author":"Grandjean","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1234","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26031234","article-title":"Deciphering the functions of raphe-hippocampal serotonergic and glutamatergic circuits and their deficits in Alzheimer's disease","volume":"26","author":"Yu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3078","DOI":"10.1021\/acschemneuro.9b00073","article-title":"Serotonin regulation of the prefrontal cortex: cognitive relevance and the impact of developmental perturbation","volume":"10","author":"Sargin","year":"2019","journal-title":"ACS Chem Neurosci"},{"key":"ref62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.1139\/jpn.0738","article-title":"How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs","volume":"32","author":"Young","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Psychiatry Neurosci"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2019.01.037","article-title":"A visual circuit related to habenula underlies the antidepressive effects of light therapy","volume":"102","author":"Huang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbr.2024.115157","article-title":"Juvenile bright light exposure ameliorates adult behavioral abnormalities by enhancing neurogenesis in a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor dysfunction mouse model relevant for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia","volume":"472","author":"Shang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Behav Brain Res"},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.1016\/j.expneurol.2004.11.016","article-title":"Increased neurogenesis and the ectopic granule cells after intrahippocampal BDNF infusion in adult rats","volume":"192","author":"Scharfman","year":"2005","journal-title":"Exp Neurol"},{"key":"ref66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.1038\/s41398-023-02688-9","article-title":"Increased volume of the left hippocampal dentate gyrus after 4 weeks of bright light exposure in patients with mood disorders: a randomized controlled study","volume":"13","author":"Hirakawa","year":"2023","journal-title":"Transl Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3323","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-018-05868-0","article-title":"Epigenetic regulation of the circadian gene per 1 contributes to age-related changes in hippocampal memory","volume":"9","author":"Kwapis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat Commun"},{"key":"ref68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1002\/hipo.22822","article-title":"Light modulates hippocampal function and spatial learning in a diurnal rodent species: a study using male nile grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus)","volume":"28","author":"Soler","year":"2018","journal-title":"Hippocampus"},{"key":"ref69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresbull.2021.06.019","article-title":"Bright light exposure induces dynamic changes of spatial memory in nocturnal rodents","volume":"174","author":"Shang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Brain Res Bull"},{"key":"ref70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12870","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms252312870","article-title":"Light-modulated circadian synaptic plasticity in the somatosensory cortex: link to locomotor activity","volume":"25","author":"Jasi\u0144ska","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"ref71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6601","DOI":"10.1007\/s12035-017-0852-4","article-title":"Brain photobiomodulation therapy: a narrative review","volume":"55","author":"Salehpour","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mol Neurobiol"},{"key":"ref72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"634","DOI":"10.1002\/lsm.23082","article-title":"Transcranial photobiomodulation prevents anxiety and depression via changing serotonin and nitric oxide levels in brain of depression model mice: a study of three different doses of 810\u202fnm laser","volume":"51","author":"Eshaghi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Lasers Surg Med"},{"key":"ref73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70551","DOI":"10.1111\/cns.70551","article-title":"Hypothalamic orexin projections to the hippocampal CA1 region alleviate cognitive and synaptic plasticity impairments induced by blue light exposure","volume":"31","author":"Feng","year":"2025","journal-title":"CNS Neurosci Ther"},{"key":"ref74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"174075","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pbb.2025.174075","article-title":"Irregular light schedules disrupt daily rhythms and dysregulate genes involved in neuroplasticity, motivation, and stress responses","volume":"255","author":"Berbegal-S\u00e1ez","year":"2025","journal-title":"Pharmacol Biochem Behav"},{"key":"ref75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4898","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0703615105","article-title":"Light deprivation damages monoamine neurons and produces a depressive behavioral phenotype in rats","volume":"105","author":"Gonzalez","year":"2008","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci USA"},{"key":"ref76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1802","DOI":"10.1021\/acschemneuro.1c00081","article-title":"Light promotes neural correlates of fear memory via enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the prelimbic cortex","volume":"12","author":"Sun","year":"2021","journal-title":"ACS Chem Neurosci"},{"key":"ref77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"136681","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neulet.2022.136681","article-title":"Transcranial photobiomodulation changes neuronal morphology in the cerebral cortex of rats","volume":"781","author":"Cardoso","year":"2022","journal-title":"Neurosci Lett"},{"key":"ref78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2009.07.004","article-title":"Light as a modulator of cognitive brain function","volume":"13","author":"Vandewalle","year":"2009","journal-title":"Trends Cogn Sci"},{"key":"ref79","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20025","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-69863-w","article-title":"Functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback training targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex induces changes in cortico-striatal functional connectivity","volume":"14","author":"Godet","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"116333","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2024.116333","article-title":"Pupillary response to blue light as a biomarker of seasonal pattern in major depressive episode: a clinical study using pupillometry","volume":"344","author":"Maruani","year":"2025","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res"},{"key":"ref81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"782399","DOI":"10.3389\/fnsys.2021.782399","article-title":"Gamma oscillations in Alzheimer's disease and their potential therapeutic role","volume":"15","author":"Traikapi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Syst Neurosci"},{"key":"ref82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114703","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbr.2023.114703","article-title":"Gamma (60 Hz) auditory stimulation improves intrusions but not recall and working memory in healthy adults","volume":"456","author":"Manippa","year":"2024","journal-title":"Behav Brain Res"},{"key":"ref83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.3233\/jad-200179","article-title":"Flickering red-light stimulus for promoting coherent 40Hz neural oscillation: a feasibility study","volume":"75","author":"Sahin","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Alzheimer's Dis"},{"key":"ref84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"739333","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2021.739333","article-title":"40-Hz blue light changes hippocampal activation and functional connectivity underlying recognition memory","volume":"15","author":"Lin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Hum Neurosci"},{"key":"ref85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"901","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2019.05.020","article-title":"Leaving the lights on using gamma entrainment to protect against neurodegeneration","volume":"102","author":"Ferreira","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"ref86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e26775","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.26775","article-title":"Optimal gamma-band entrainment of visual cortex","volume":"45","author":"Petro","year":"2024","journal-title":"Hum Brain Mapp"},{"key":"ref87","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2021174118","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.2021174118","article-title":"Molecular mechanism of the repressive phase of the mammalian circadian clock","volume":"118","author":"Cao","year":"2021","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci USA"},{"key":"ref88","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1002\/da.20538","article-title":"Narrow-band blue-light treatment of seasonal affective disorder in adults and the influence of additional nonseasonal symptoms","volume":"26","author":"Strong","year":"2009","journal-title":"Depress Anxiety"},{"key":"ref89","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18368","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-68799-5","article-title":"Effects of phototherapy on biopterin, neopterin, tryptophan, and behavioral neuroinflammatory reaction in patients with post-stroke depression","volume":"14","author":"Liu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref90","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2016.05.062","article-title":"A sham-controlled randomized trial of adjunctive light therapy for non-seasonal depression","volume":"203","author":"Chojnacka","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"ref91","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e645","DOI":"10.4088\/JCP.14m09376","article-title":"Comparison of venlafaxine alone versus venlafaxine plus bright light therapy combination for severe major depressive disorder","volume":"76","author":"G\u00fczel \u00d6zdemir","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Clin Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref92","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2025.02.031","article-title":"Violet light photobiomodulation therapy for depression: a double-blind randomized crossover trial","volume":"376","author":"Noda","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Neurology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2026.1768810\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T04:24:19Z","timestamp":1783398259000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fneur.2026.1768810\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]]},"references-count":92,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fneur.2026.1768810"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fneur.2026.1768810","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-2295"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-2295","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]]},"article-number":"1768810"}}