Changes in brain MRI under different lunar cycles: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Biological rhythm research Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 823 - 829
• Main Authors: Malek, Ayyoub, Daghighi, Mohammad Hossein, Pourisa, Masoud, Pourmohammadi, Tohid, Dastgiri, Saeed, Nezami, Nariman, Mirza-Aghazadeh-Attari, Mohammad, Arasteh, Amin, Zarrintan, Armin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 04-05-2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Central nervous system; Cross-sectional studies; Hippocampus; Lentiform nucleus; lunar phases; Lunar rhythm; Magnetic resonance imaging; Moon; MRI; Neuroimaging; Subarachnoid space; Thalamus; Ventricle
• ISSN: 0929-1016; 1744-4179
• DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2020.1871546

Physiologic changes in mammals, including humans, are known to vary as a function of different lunar cycle phases. Importantly, the structure of the central nervous system (CNS) affects its functional status. A total of 15 healthy volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in each of the lunar cycles, with each subject undergoing a total of four imaging sessions. Size and volume of structures such as the hippocampus, subarachnoid space, lentiform nucleus, thalamus, and trigon, were measured by expert radiologists. Inter-phase differences in size and volume were determined. There was a significant difference between ventricular volume, whole-brain volume, hippocampal volume, lentiform nuclei volume, and thalamus diameter between the four lunar phases. The new moon had the lowest values than any other lunar phase in any reported structures. Importantly, the difference between the new moon and the third quarter lunar phase was always significant. There was no significant difference in subarachnoid space volume and trigone diameter of the ventricles in different lunar phases. The trigone was the smallest in the third quarter lunar phase. Our results suggest that lunar phases affect brain structures.