How does light control the activity and electrical properties of neurons integrating arousal behaviour, circadian rhythms, and sleep?

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The project is relevant for a general understanding of circadian clocks, which also control numerous physiological and behavioural processes in humans. Proper circadian clock function and synchronization with the natural environment contributes to our well being as dysfunction (or desynchronization) can cause severe sleep disorders and depression.

Research on body clocks and sleep are of great interest to the general public and specifically the large and ever-increasing proportion (about a third) of the population who have sleep problems. Generally sleep disorders are poorly treated therefore our research on clock endogenous channels (N.B. a third of all drugs in development target channels) will provide excellent targets for novel drugs to treat these disorders. The outcome of this research will impact on the pharmaceutical industry that focuses on this area of research. Furthermore by studying light input mechanisms to the clock, it might be possible to design behavioural therapies to improve sleep i.e. light exposure to treat seasonally affected depression (SAD) or darkening a person's room to help them to sleep. By studying the genetic basis of these chronotypes it will be possible in future to sequence a person's genome (~£1000) and work out the best treatment for their sleep disorder (personalized medicine). Circadian rhythms and sleep become weaker and more fragmented with age. With an aging population more and more people will suffer the consequences of poor rhythms and sleep, therefore circadian research influences "Ageing research: lifelong health and well being" (BBSRC strategic priority), a better understanding of changes in these processes over time will inform doctors of how to assess the implications of circadian rhythms on the treatment options for their patients.

Detailed and basic understanding of circadian clock synchronization is also important to better adjust the problems related to shift work (~20% of the working population), jet lag and 24/7 culture both in terms of creating 'clock-friendly' work environments (e.g. sufficient illumination, designed time-tables), as well as treatment of people who suffer from it (e.g. light-therapy). Increased knowledge in this area will impact the health and safety recommendations of government organisations regarding workplace requirements that need to provide a healthy working environment.

Moreover, environmental disruption of body clocks alone or compounded by clock gene mutations can lead to sleep disorders, obesity, cancer, psychiatric disorders such as SAD, bipolar disorder and addiction which increasingly is becoming a burden on the NHS. Circadian rhythms influence the symptoms an individual experiences such as migraine, pain and asthma. While heart attacks are more likely to occur in the morning. Furthermore drug efficacy varies with circadian time i.e. chemotherapy is given at certain times of day. In addition, in Morvan's Syndrome, patients exhibit marked sleeplessness associated with Kv channel dysfunction which if untreated leads to death. Therefore this fundamental circadian research will help us understand how disruption of clocks can have negative consequences for the health and well being of individuals and will inform various areas of biomedical research that are extrinsically link to the body clock. The potential impact of realizing the benefits of working with a healthy circadian regime is evident increasing the productivity of the public sector, industry, business, general public and schools. Workers and children alike do better during their working day after a good night's sleep therefore circadian and sleep research can generally inform and improve UK economic productivity and societal health and well-being. This could be brought about by our public engagement and internship activities that help influence public policy and legislation bring about operational and organizational change.