title: Seasonality in human cognitive brain responses.
abstract: Daily variations in the environment have shaped life on Earth, with circadian cycles identified in most living organisms. Likewise, seasons correspond to annual environmental fluctuations to which organisms have adapted. However, little is known about seasonal variations in human brain physiology. We investigated annual rhythms of brain activity in a cross-sectional study of healthy young participants. They were maintained in an environment free of seasonal cues for 4.5 d, after which brain responses were assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they performed two different cognitive tasks. Brain responses to both tasks varied significantly across seasons, but the phase of these annual rhythms was strikingly different, speaking for a complex impact of season on human brain function. For the sustained attention task, the maximum and minimum responses were located around summer and winter solstices, respectively, whereas for the working memory task, maximum and minimum responses were observed around autumn and spring equinoxes. These findings reveal previously unappreciated process-specific seasonality in human cognitive brain function that could contribute to intraindividual cognitive changes at specific times of year and changes in affective control in vulnerable populations.
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Christelle
authors: C
authors: Meyer
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Psychology: Cognition and Behavior, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Muto
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Psychology: Cognition and Behavior, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Jaspar
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Kussé
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Lambot
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Sarah L
authors: SL
authors: Chellappa
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Degueldre
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Evelyne
authors: E
authors: Balteau
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Luxen
authors: Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, GU2 7XP Guildford, United Kingdom;
authors: Benita
authors: B
authors: Middleton
authors: Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, GU2 7XP Guildford, United Kingdom;
authors: Simon N
authors: SN
authors: Archer
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Psychology: Cognition and Behavior, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Fabienne
authors: F
authors: Collette
authors: Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, GU2 7XP Guildford, United Kingdom;
authors: Derk-Jan
authors: DJ
authors: Dijk
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Phillips
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium pmaquet@ulg.ac.be gilles.vandewalle@ulg.ac.be.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Maquet
authors: GIGA-Research-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), 4000 Liège, Belgium; pmaquet@ulg.ac.be gilles.vandewalle@ulg.ac.be.
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Vandewalle
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003624:Darkness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012621:Seasons; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: annual; attention; cognition; fMRI; season