Prof. Chaoran Ren
tchaoran@jnu.edu.cn
86-020-85227086
tchaoran@jnu.edu.cn
86-020-85227086
Light is a powerful modulator of non-image-forming functions including mood, cognition, and pain. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the non-image-forming functions of light remain elusive. My laboratory endeavors to elucidate the circuit mechanisms of the non-image-forming functions of light. In the past five years, we have made a series of achievements in this field, including: 1) Unraveled neural circuits mediating the antidepressive effects of bright light treatment, which would provide mechanistic insights into the antidepressive effects of light therapy. 2) Unraveled neural circuits underlying the spatial memory-promoting effects of bright light treatment, which improves the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of light on cognition. 3) Proposed circuit mechanisms for the antinociceptive effects of bright light treatment, which would provide the theoretical basis for the application of light therapy in pain-related diseases. My current work plans to comprehensively investigate the circuit mechanisms underlying the non-image-forming functions of light and develop new light therapy approaches to target the visual pathways, which may find the basic law for understanding the complex brain cognition principle and pave the way for developing and testing novel therapeutic approaches in nervous system diseases.
BM, Shandong First Medical University, 2007
PhD, Peking University, 2012
(#Corresponding authors)
1. Hu Z, Mu Y, Huang L, Hu Y, Chen Z, Yang Y, Huang X, Fu Y, Xi Y, Lin S, Tao Q, Xu F, So KF, Ren C#. A visual circuit related to the periaqueductal gray area for the antinociceptive effects of bright light treatment. Neuron. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.02.009.
(Highlighted by Nature Reviews Neuroscience: `Shining a light on pain `)
2. Huang X, Huang P, Huang L, Hu Z, Liu X, Shen J, Xi Y, Yang Y, Fu Y, Tao Q, Lin S, Xu A, Xu F, Xue T, So KF#, Li H#,Ren C#. A Visual Circuit Related to the Nucleus Reuniens for the Spatial-Memory-Promoting Effects of Light Treatment. Neuron. 2021 Jan 20;109(2):347-362.
(Previewed by Neuron: `A Bright Idea for Improving Spatial Memory`)
3. Huang L, Xi Y, Peng Y, Yang Y, Huang X, Fu Y, Tao Q, Xiao J, Yuan T, An K, Zhao H, Pu M, Xu F, Xue T, Luo M, So KF, Ren C#. A Visual Circuit Related to Habenula Underlies the Antidepressive Effects of Light Therapy. Neuron. 2019 Apr 3;102(1):128-142.
(Previewed by Neuron: `Taming the Black Dog by Light: A Retina-Habenula Circuit Mechanism Unveiled`)
(Highlighted by Nature Reviews Neuroscience: `Lightening depression`)
4. Du M, Huang L, Zheng J, Xi Y, Dai Y, Zhang W, Yan W, Tao G, Qiu J, So KF, Ren C#, Zhou S#. Flexible Fiber Probe for Efficient Neural Stimulation and Detection. Advanced Science. 2020 Jun 9;7(15):2001410.
(Cover story)
5. Huang L, Yuan T, Tan M, Xi Y, Hu Y, Tao Q, Zhao Z, Zheng J, Han Y, Xu F, Luo M, Sollars PJ, Pu M, Pickard GE, So KF#, Ren C#. A retinoraphe projection regulates serotonergic activity and looming-evoked defensive behaviour. Nature Communications. 2017 Mar 31;8:14908.
