Light and the Brain: How Infrared Helps with Anxiety

Did you know that light can influence your brain and mood? Scientists have found that shining infrared light on a specific part of the brain, called the hippocampus, can boost the growth of new brain cells. This part of the brain is linked to mood disorders, and growing new cells there can help reduce anxiety. While we know a lot about how visible light affects us, we don't know much about infrared light and its impact on our brain's stem cells, especially when it comes to anxiety. A recent study set out to change that by developing a new way to use light to stimulate brain cell growth in the hippocampus and figure out how it helps reduce anxiety. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in our memory and emotions. It's like the brain's command center for handling stress and anxiety. When this area is active and healthy, it can help us manage our emotions better. But when it's not functioning well, it can lead to mood disorders. So, finding ways to boost its activity is important. Infrared light has been shown to improve learning and memory in both humans and animals. But until now, we didn't know much about how it affects the brain's stem cells, which are responsible for creating new brain cells. These stem cells can be dormant, or quiescent, and activating them can have major benefits, like reducing anxiety. The study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by exploring how infrared light can wake up these dormant brain cells and what happens next. By understanding these mechanisms, scientists hope to develop new ways to treat anxiety and other mood disorders. Who knew that light could be so powerful?