Brain Awareness Week
Published on February 22, 2010
Brain Awareness Week from March 15th to March 21st...
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| Teams |
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Neurobiology of circadian rhythms and Sleep |
| The research aims of Neurobiological Rhythms and Sleep are focused on the molecular, cellular and behavioral mechanisms of the circadian timing system and the consequences of aging and neurodegenerative disease. Central to our approach is an understanding of the synchronization of circadian rhythms by the external light cycle, the molecular and physiological mechanisms of the endogenous circadian oscillator (SCN), and the regulation of output behavioral and physiological rhythms. The coding of photic information by retinal photoreceptors (rods, cones, melanopsin ganglion cells) are studied using in vivo electrophysiological recording techniques in anaesthetised and awake, freely moving animals. The effects of light (intensity, duration, spectrum) on SCN neuronal activity and on clock gene expression are also assayed using quantitative RT-PCR, laser dissection and microarray analysis. In order to understand the consequences of chronobiological disorders, another line of research involves investigation of the mechanisms of synchronisation of central and peripheral oscillators, including the expression of clock genes and rhythmically expressed clock controlled genes in the brain and in different body tissues. Pathological models investigated in rodents include ocular diseases and Parkinson's disease, and a prosimian primate model of aging. In humans, circadian photoreception and entrainment of the circadian timing system as well as chronobiological disorders related to ocular pathologies, aging and neurodegenerative diseases are studied in the framework of a European integrated project in our clinically based Platform for Research on Human Chronobiology. In order to bridge the gap between cellular-molecular studies in rodent models and clinical studies in humans, the non-human primate is used to study the circadian timing system and sleep wake cycle and, in the framework of the laboratory transversal project, the chronobiological consequences of Parkinson's Disease. | |
| Howard Cooper |
The research aims of Neurobiological Rhythms and Sleep are focused on the molecular, cellular and behavioral mechanisms of the circadian timing system and the consequences of aging and neurodegenerative disease.Our approaches strive to understand the mechanisms of synchronization of circadian rhythms by lignt, the molecular and physiological mechanisms of the endogenous circadian oscillators, and the regulation of output behavioral and physiological rhythms. The coding of photic information ... |
| Christine Coutanson | |
| Philippe Denis | |
| Ouria Dkhissi-Benyahya | My research interest is to understand how the circadian system is regulated by light, the role of classical and novel photoreceptors in circadian light perception and the consequences of specific photoreceptor deletions on the functioning of the retinal oscillator and the central endogenous clock. This work include a range of molecular, cellular, anatomical and behavioral approaches. |
| Claude Gronfier |
My research projects focus on understanding the mechanisms involved in entrainment of the circadian timing system (a.k.a. the
endogenous biological clock), the physiological consequences of circadian
misalignment (circadian rhythms sleep disorders, space class missions), and the
etiology of circadian and/or sleep disorders in conditions such as ocular
pathologies, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, and shift work. My research
interests also include understanding ... |
| Ludovic Mure PHD Student | I'm interested in Non Image Forming System (NIF) and particularly in the spectral properties of Melanopsin. keywords: NIF, Melanopsin, SCN electrophysiology, circadian rhythms, pupillary light reflex, bistability, photoisomerase, photic history |
| Raymond Najjar PhD Student | My main research interests are on the effects of aging on the human eye and circadian system, psychophysical techniques, vision and sleep research.I’m also interested in executive functions of the brain; Circadian, sleep and cognitive alterations following neurodegenerative diseases. |
| Petteri Teikari PhD Student | I am interested mainly in the melanopsin-dependent non-image forming (NIF) photoreception and the contribution of classical photoreceptors to NIF-responses.
Keywords: non-image forming visual system, NIF, melanopsin, acute effects of light, alertness, phototransduction, photoreception, pupillary light reflex, pupillometry, vision, lighting, architectural lighting, light, chronobiology, illumination engineering, biomedical engineering, matlab |
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Selected Publications of Team members :
Cooper HM, Mure LS (2008) Expected and unexpected properties of melanopsin signalling. J Biol Rhythms 23(5): 392-93
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Hut RA, Oklejewicz M, Rieux C, Cooper HM. (2008) Photic sensitivity ranges of hamster pupillary and circadian phase responses do not overlap. J Biol Rhythms 23: 37-48.
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Drouyer E, Rieux C, Hut RA, Cooper HM (2007) Responses of SCN neurons to light and dark adaptation: relative contributions of melanopsin and rod-cone inputs. J Neurosci 27(36): 9623-31.
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Dkhissi-Benyahya O, Gronfier C, De Vanssay W, Flamant F, Cooper HM (2007) Modeling the role of mid-wavelength cones in circadian responses to light. Neuron 53(5):677-87.
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Gronfier C, Wright KP Jr, Kronauer RE, Czeisler CA (2007) Entrainment of the human circadian pacemaker to longer-than-24-h days. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 104(21):9081-6
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Mure LS, Rieux C, Hattar S, Cooper HM. (2007) Melanopsin-dependent nonvisual responses: evidence for photopigment bistability in vivo J Biol Rhythms 22(5): 411-24
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Canaple L, Rambaud J, Dkhissi-Benyahya O, Rayet B, Tan NS, Michalik L, Delaunay F, Wahli W, Laudet V (2006) Reciprocal regulation of BMAL1 and PPARa defines a novel positive feedback loop in the murine liver circadian clock. Mol Endocrinol 20(8):1715-27
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Dkhissi-Benyahya O, Rieux C, Hut RA, Cooper HM. (2006) Immunohistochemical evidence for a melanopsin cone in human retina. IOVS, 47(4):1636-41.
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Gronfier C, Wright KP, Jewett ME, Kronauer RE, Czeisler CA (2004) Efficacy of a single sequence of intermittent bright light pulses for delaying circadian phase in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 287:E174-E181.
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Glickman G, Hanifin J, Rollag MD, Wang J, Cooper HM, Brainard GC. (2003) Inferior retinal light exposure is more effective than superior retinal exposure in suppressing melatonins in humans J. Biol Rhythms, 18(1):71-79.
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Chiquet C, Dkhissi-Benyahya O, Szel A, Degrip WJ, Cooper HM (2002) Characterisation of calbindin positive cones in four primate species. Neuroscience. 115(4):1323-33.
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Rieux C, Carney R, Lupi D, Dkhissi-Benyahya O, Janssen K, Cooper HM. (2002) Analysis of immunohistochemical label of Fos protein in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: comparison of different methods of quantification. J. Biol. Rhythms. 17(2): 121-136.
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Brandenberger G, Gronfier C, Chapotot F, Simon C, Piquard F (2000) Effect of sleep deprivation on overall 24h growth hormone secretion Lancet suppl
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Dkhissi-Benyahya O, Sicard B, Cooper HM (2000) Effects of irradiance and stimulus duration on early gene expression (Fos) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus : temporal summation and reciprocity. J Neurosci 20(20):7790-7.
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