environmental light

Illuminating Circadian Circuits

Proper alignment of the circadian system the environmental light/dark cycle is central to human health and well-being, and occurs exclusively via light input from the melanopsin-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). I will discuss our lab’s recent work uncovering a new inhibitory signaling pathway from the eye to the brain that dampens the sensitivity of our circadian and pupil systems to light.