According to a new and highly interesting find, too much of light at night can cause mice to display symptoms of depression. Under the study, researchers found that mice kept in a room flooded with light for 24 hours exhibited more depressive symptoms as compared to those that lived in the normal light-dark situations.

The study was presented in Chicago on October 21, at the Society of Neuroscience Annual Meeting. 24 male laboratory mice were studied for several weeks. Half were kept in a 24 hour lighted room, and the other half were kept in the dark for 8 hours and in light for 16 hours. After three weeks, the mice which were kept in light at all times displayed definite depressive symptoms.

Co-author Randy Nelson, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Ohio State, suggested that similar effects can be found in humans too. He said, "The increasing rate of depressive disorders in humans corresponds with the increasing use of light at night in modern society. Many people are now exposed to unnatural light cycles, and that may have real consequences for our health".

The research is being viewed as a breakthrough and might someday be extended to humans as well.