Transient anhedonia phenotype and altered circadian timing of behaviour during night-time dim light exposure in Per3 mice, but not wildtype mice.

Industrialisation greatly increased human night-time exposure to artificial light, which in animal models is a known cause of depressive phenotypes. Whilst many of these phenotypes are 'direct' effects of light on affect, an 'indirect' pathway via altered sleep-wake timing has been suggested. We have previously shown that the Period3 gene, which forms part of the biological clock, is associated with altered sleep-wake patterns in response to light.

Conscientiousness is a predictor of diurnal preference.

The relationship between diurnal preference, as measured by the Horne-Ostberg questionnaire, and quantifiable personality traits was investigated in 617 participants. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that out of the personality variables, conscientiousness was the single biggest predictor of diurnal preference (beta=0.246), after controlling for depression, sleep disorders, shift work, age, gender, and demographic characteristics.