Dim light at night prior to adolescence increases adult anxiety-like behaviors

Exposure to dim light at night (5 lx) during early life increases anxiety-like responses in adult mice.

• Exposure to dim light at night disrupts normal circadian organization.
• Mice exposed to dim light at night showed increased anxiety-like and fear responses as adults.
• Alterations in the expression of core clock genes, including Clock and Rev-ERB, were observed after dim light exposure.
• Effects on anxiety and fear behavior were more pronounced when exposure occurred during early life compared to adulthood.

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