Differential activation of the default mode network in jet lagged individuals

Joana Fernandes Coutinho*, Oscar Filipe Gonçalves, Liliana Maia, Cristiana Fernandes Vasconcelos, Kristin Perrone-McGovern, Stephanie Simon-Dack, Kristina Hernandez, Patricia Oliveira-Silva, Ana Raquel Mesquita, Adriana Sampaio

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Long-term exposure to transmeridian flights has been shown to impact cognitive functioning. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of jet lag in the activation of specific brain networks have not been investigated. We analyzed the impact of short-term jet lag on the activation of the default mode network (DMN). A group of individuals who were on a transmeridian flight and a control group went through a functional magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. Statistical analysis was performed to test for differences in the DMN activation between groups. Participants from the jet lag group presented decreased activation in the anterior nodes of the DMN, specifically in bilateral medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. No areas of increased activation were observed for the jet lag group. These results may be suggestive of a negative impact of jet lag on important cognitive functions such as introspection, emotional regulation and decision making in a few days after individuals arrive at their destination.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)143-149
Number of pages7
JournalChronobiology International
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Brain
  • Default mode network
  • Jet lag

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Differential activation of the default mode network in jet lagged individuals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this