Luminance Encoding in the Human Brain

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a central hub for executive control, integrating cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes that support flexible behavior and social interaction. Disruption of PFC function is implicated in a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and schizophrenia. Notably, many functions governed by the PFC are strongly influenced by environmental light.

Recent work from our lab has shown that neural activity in multiple regions of the human PFC systematically tracks changes in light intensity (irradiance), revealing a neural substrate through which light can modulate PFC-dependent functions and behavior. We have demonstrated comparable light-sensitive responses in the mouse PFC, where retinal signals conveying light intensity reach the cortex indirectly via the perihabenular nucleus of the dorsal thalamus. These findings raise the intriguing possibility that light-sensitive PFC networks are evolutionarily conserved across species.

Building on this work, our lab uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether a homologous pathway exists in humans and to determine how light-driven signals shape PFC activity. By elucidating these mechanisms, our research aims to open new avenues for understanding how environmental light influences complex brain functions and behavior.