title: Rhythmical Photic Stimulation at Alpha Frequencies Produces Antidepressant-Like Effects in a Mouse Model of Depression.
abstract: Current therapies for depression consist primarily of pharmacological agents, including antidepressants, and/or psychiatric counseling, such as psychotherapy. However, light therapy has recently begun to be considered as an effective tool for the treatment of the neuropsychiatric behaviors and symptoms of a variety of brain disorders or diseases, including depression. One methodology employed in light therapy involves flickering photic stimulation within a specific frequency range. The present study investigated whether flickering and flashing photic stimulation with light emitting diodes (LEDs) could improve depression-like behaviors in a corticosterone (CORT)-induced mouse model of depression. Additionally, the effects of the flickering and flashing lights on depressive behavior were compared with those of fluoxetine. Rhythmical flickering photic stimulation at alpha frequencies from 9-11 Hz clearly improved performance on behavioral tasks assessing anxiety, locomotor activity, social interaction, and despair. In contrast, fluoxetine treatment did not strongly improve behavioral performance during the same period compared with flickering photic stimulation. The present findings demonstrated that LED-derived flickering photic stimulation more rapidly improved behavioral outcomes in a CORT-induced mouse model of depression compared with fluoxetine. Thus, the present study suggests that rhythmical photic stimulation at alpha frequencies may aid in the improvement of the quality of life of patients with depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shinheun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sangwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Arshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bumseok
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Keun-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Daejong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003345:Corticosterone; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors