The Impact of Blue Light on Acute Melatonin Supression: Irradiance and Duration Relationship

Mark Rea, PhD

LRC Director
Professor of Cognitive Science
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York

The spectral sensitivity of melatonin suppression peaks close to 450 nm. A model of human circadian phototransduction was developed based on the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the human retina. This model has been used to successfully predict acute melatonin suppression of polychromatic light sources. The present study is aimed at providing a further, a priori test of the model using a previously described personal light delivery device. In addition, a more accurate estimate of threshold for human circadian phototransduction is provided. A priori predictions of acute melatonin suppression can be made using the model of human circadian phototransduction. Much lower levels of 470-nm light can suppress nocturnal melatonin. Implications for clinical applications include more confortable, less bright, and flexible light treatment delivery device.

References

Predictors of Clinical Pain in Fibromyalgia: Examining the Role of Sleep

Anderson RJ, McCrae CS, Staud R, Berry RB, Robinson ME.
Department of Clinical and Health...

Bidirectional interactions between circadian entrainment and cognitive performance

Gritton HJ, Kantorowski A, Sarter M, Lee TM.
Department of Psychology, University of...

Subjective, anatomical, and functional nasal evaluation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

de Aguiar Vidigal T, Martinho Haddad FL, Gregório LC, Poyares D, Tufik S, Azeredo...

Sleep disturbances and fatigue: independent predictors of sickness absence? A prospective study among 6538 employees

Bültmann U, Nielsen MB, Madsen IE, Burr H, Rugulies R.
Department of Health Sciences,...

The role of presleep negative emotion in sleep physiology

Vandekerckhove M, Weiss R, Schotte C, Exadaktylos V, Haex B, Verbraecken J, Cluydts R....