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Measuring and using light in the melanopsin age
Open accessAbstract
Light is a potent stimulus for regulating circadian, hormonal, and behavioral systems. In addition, light therapy is effective for certain affective disorders, sleep problems, and circadian rhythm disruption. These biological and behavioral effects of light are influenced by a distinct photoreceptor in the eye, melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), in addition to conventional rods and cones. We summarize the neurophysiology of this newly described sensory pathway and consider implications for the measurement, production, and application of light. A new light-measurement strategy taking account of the complex photoreceptive inputs to these non-visual responses is proposed for use by researchers, and simple suggestions for artificial/architectural lighting are provided for regulatory authorities, lighting manufacturers, designers, and engineers.
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“For this reason, it has recently been proposed that lux is an inappropriate measure for estimation of the impact of light on melatonin suppression, circadian-phase shifting, and other non -imageforming effects of retinal light exposure (35).”
From Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness. (2015) · cites this paper as [35]
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“They also exhibit beneficial actions on cardiovascular health by enhancing endothelial function, maintaining metabolic homeostasis,38 and reducing inflammation.39,40”
From Total and Cause-Specific Mortality of U.S. Nurses Working Rotating Night Shifts (2015) · cites this paper as [40]
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InfluentialResearch on the coupling effect of lighting and thermal environment under learning behavior
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Cai, H., Lin, Q., Liu, H., Tian, M., Li, X., & Xiao, H. (2023) · LEUKOS The Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America · doi:10.1080/15502724.2023.2220926 · Cited by 6
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MethodLight: An Extrinsic Factor Influencing Animal-based Research
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“Photopigment-related measures (α-opic lux) [34] at mean illuminance levels”
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Home lighting, blue-light filtering, and their effects on melatonin suppression
Terán, E., Yee-Rendón, C. M., Sosa-Arámbula, H. J., la Herrán-Arita, A. K. D., & Woods, R. L. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-29882-7 · Cited by 5
“Conversely, modern “cool” CCT technologies (cool-LED, cool-CFL) produced substantially higher MSV (n) (Table 1), driven by their high spectral power near the melanopsin sensitivity peak (~ 480 nm) 25,27 .”
InfluentialXu, W., Wu, P., Yao, Q., Zhang, R., Qin, B., Wang, D., Chen, S., & Shen, Y. (2024) · Displays · doi:10.1016/j.displa.2024.102809 · Cited by 5
Bará, S., & Castro, J. J. (2025) · Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer · doi:10.1016/j.jqsrt.2025.109378 · Cited by 5
“…bands include, among others, the human photopic and scotopic spectral luminous efficiencies [7,8], the five human photoreceptor alfa-opic curves [9-11], various sets of classical astronomical filters [12] including the RGB system [13-15], satellite [16,17] and ground-based [18,19] radiometer…”
Seeing the Light: Perception and Discrimination of Illumination Color
Hurlbert, A. C., & Yu, C. (2025) · Annual Review of Vision Science · doi:10.1146/annurev-vision-121423-013755 · Cited by 7
Landscape Analysis: Connected Lighting System
Chaichi, N., & Daim, T. U. (2018) · Innovation, technology and knowledge management · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-68987-6_3 · Cited by 5
Abboushi, B., & Safranek, S. (2022) · Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference (ANNSIM) · doi:10.23919/annsim55834.2022.9859378 · Cited by 5
“Several circadian light metrics have been proposed including EML (Lucas et al., 2014), melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (mEDI) (CIE, 2020), and CS (Rea and Figueiro 2018).”
BackgroundIntake of l-serine before bedtime prevents the delay of the circadian phase in real life
Ohashi, M., Lee, S., Eto, T., Uotsu, N., Tarumizu, C., Matsuoka, S., Yasuo, S., & Higuchi, S. (2022) · Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY · doi:10.1186/s40101-022-00306-z · Cited by 6
Fostervold, K. I., & Eilertsen, D. (2022) · Lighting Research & Technology · doi:10.1177/14771535221123237 · Cited by 7
Gardasevic, M., Didikoğlu, A., Lawrence, S., Vetter, C., Brown, T. M., Allen, A. E., & Lucas, R. J. (2022) · Clocks & Sleep · doi:10.3390/clockssleep4040045 · Cited by 7
“However, the smartphone light meter measures only illuminance, rather than other more appropriate metrics such as melanopic irradiance [49,50].”
BackgroundSelf-citationRepresenting the photobiological dimension of light in northern architecture
Lalande, P., Hébert, M., Potvin, A., Lalonde, J., Watchman, M., & Demers, C. M. H. (2023) · Indoor and Built Environment · doi:10.1177/1420326x231178188 · Cited by 7
“43 The sensor head is mounted on a tripod at the height of 1.5 m to correspond to a standing observer, and vertical illuminance (lux, EML) is acquired through a horizontal panoramic sweep for all orientations of a 360° rotation, performed over a duration of approximately 60 s, at the rate of one…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialInvestigation of the daylight spectrum in an indoor environment using CIE S 026 melanopic metrics
Englezou, M., & Michael, A. (2023) · Lighting Research & Technology · doi:10.1177/14771535231204162 · Cited by 5
“38 Lucas et al. 19 proposed new metrics calculated based on the spectral sensitivity function of each photoreceptor in the retina.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialA STUDY ON THE EVALUATION METHODS OF INDOOR LIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR OCCUPANT COMFORT AND WELL-BEING
Kim, K. R., Lee, K. S., & Lee, J. (2023) · Journal of Green Building · doi:10.3992/jgb.18.4.99 · Cited by 5
Liu, J., Li, Z., Zhang, Z., Xie, L., & Wu, J. (2024) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su16093563 · Cited by 5
“The Circadian Stimulus (CS) model [34] by Rea et al. and the Equivalent Mel-anopic Lux (EML) model [35] are predominant in this fi eld, fi nding extensive application in medical and optical research.”
MethodSalvadori, G., Leccese, F., Burattini, C., & Bisegna, F. (2018) · IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering and IEEE Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Europe (EEEIC / I&CPS Europe) · doi:10.1109/eeeic.2018.8494402 · Cited by 5
Comparetto, R., & Farini, A. (2019) · The European Physical Journal Plus · doi:10.1140/epjp/i2019-12848-x · Cited by 6
Song, J., Wang, X., Wang, J., Zhang, H., Pan, C., Zhang, Y., & Cosmas, J. (2020) · IEEE Communications Standards Magazine · doi:10.1109/mcomstd.001.2000011 · Cited by 5
“Light therapy is effective for certain affective disorders, sleep problems, and circadian rhythm disruption [11].”
BackgroundAssociation of P10L Polymorphism in Melanopsin Gene with Chronic Insomnia in Mexicans
Gutiérrez-Amavizca, B. E., de, E. P. M., Gutiérrez-Amavizca, J. P., Castro, O. D., Ruíz-Marquez, C. H., Conde-Andreu, K. P., Calderón, R. P., Aguirre-Ramírez, M., & Pérez-León, J. A. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18020571 · Cited by 5
“It is then understandable that a large number of investigations have focused on the relationship of melanopsin and ipPRG in behavioral disorders of the circadian rhythm—reviewed in [4]).”
BackgroundThe Importance of Light in Our Lives
Moyano, D. B., & González‐Lezcano, R. A. (2021) · Practice, progress, and proficiency in sustainability · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7023-4.ch011 · Cited by 5
Eo, Y. J., Kim, S., Lee, K. N., Kim, D. H., Kim, C., Lee, S. M., & Rag, Y. (2021) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app11188283 · Cited by 5
“proposed α-opic illuminances according to the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGC)-influenced light (IIL) responses [17].”
BackgroundTOWARDS A FRAMEWORK FOR LIGHT-DOSIMETRY STUDIES: METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Hartmeyer, S. L., Webler, F. S., & Andersen, M. (2021) · doi:10.25039/x48.2021.op16 · Cited by 6
The impact of road lighting on road user alertness in the evening
Alshdaifat, A., Moadab, N. H., & Fotios, S. A. (2023) · Lighting Research & Technology · doi:10.1177/14771535231172687 · Cited by 6
Personal Lighting Conditions to Obtain More Evidence in Light Effect Studies
van Duijnhoven, J., Burgmans, M. J. H., Aarts, M. M., Rosemann, A. L. P., & Kort, H. S. M. (2018) · Advances in intelligent systems and computing · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-96059-3_12 · Cited by 5
Proposal to calculate the circadian component in lighting projects
Sánchez-Cano, A. I., Perez, O. L., & Aporta, J. (2019) · Optica Pura y Aplicada · doi:10.7149/opa.52.1.51015 · Cited by 5
Llenas, A., Hurlbert, A. C., Lam, F., Manudhane, R., Gupta, G., Giddings, J., & Carreras, J. (2019) · Quadrennial Session of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE Session) · doi:10.25039/x46.2019.pp29 · Cited by 5
Moderie, C., der Maren, S. V., Paquet, J., & Dumont, M. (2019) · Journal of Sleep Research · doi:10.1111/jsr.12905 · Cited by 5
“The term non‐visual refers to the non‐image‐form‐ ing responses to light (Lucas et al., 2014).”
Moyano, D. B., & González‐Lezcano, R. A. (2021) · Advances in civil and industrial engineering book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7279-5.ch012 · Cited by 5
Chromaticity-based real-time assessment of melanopic and luminous efficiency of smartphone displays
Yao, Q., Zhang, L., Dai, Q., Wang, Y., & Wu, P. (2020) · Optics Express · doi:10.1364/oe.384884 · Cited by 5
Author response: Regional response to light illuminance across the human hypothalamus
Campbell, I., Sharifpour, R., Aizpurua, J. F. B., Beckers, E., Paparella, I., Berger, A., Koshmanova, E., Mortazavi, N., Read, J., Zubkov, M. A., et al. (2024) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.96576.2.sa0 · Cited by 4
Lunsford‐Avery, J. R., Davis, L., & Willoughby, M. T. (2024) · JCPP Advances · doi:10.1002/jcv2.12281 · Cited by 5
“Exposure to specific wavelengths of light (e.g., blue light at 480 nm) at certain times of the day induces activity in a nonvisual retinal pathway that projects to the areas of the brain that control the master circadian clock and foster alertness and information processing (Lucas et al., 2014).”
Metadata
- Authors
- Lucas, R. J., Peirson, S. N., Berson, D. M., Brown, T. M., Cooper, H. M., Czeisler, C. A., Figueiro, M. G., Gamlin, P. D., Lockley, S. W., O’Hagan, J. B., Price, L. L. A., Provencio, I., Skene, D. J., & Brainard, G. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Brown University (US)
- Inserm (FR)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Public Health England (GB)
- University of Virginia (US)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Thomas Jefferson University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lucas, Robert J.
- Brainard, George C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Trends in Neurosciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-01
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-9
- ISSN
- 0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4699304
- OpenAlex
- W2106496774
- Cited by
- 1,278
- References
- 87
- Citations by year
- 2026: 118 · 2025: 119 · 2024: 110 · 2023: 108 · 2022: 108 · 2021: 119 · 2020: 115 · 2019: 136 · 2018: 107 · 2017: 90 · 2016: 68 · 2015: 58 · 2014: 20
- FWCI
- 5.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The Medicine Forum (submittedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/I021086/1, BB/I007296/1, BB/K002252/1, BB/I017836/1)
- National Eye Institute (R01EY012793, R01EY017137)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Light effects on plants
- Keywords
- melanopsin, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, non-visual photoreception, circadian regulation, phototherapy, light measurement, artificial lighting design, circadian rhythm disruption, mood disorders, sleep disorders
- MeSH terms
- Melanopsin, Animals, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Photoreceptor Cells, Phototherapy, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Rod Opsins
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