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Cited by 295Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Work-Related FatigueSleep and related disorders

Human responses to bright light of different durations

Open access
Chang, Anne‐Marie, Santhi, Nayantara, St Hilaire, Melissa, Gronfier, Claude, Bradstreet, Dayna S., Duffy, Jeanne F., Lockley, Steven W., Kronauer, Richard E. +1 more·2012·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226555PMC PMC3406393
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Abstract

Key points: Light is the strongest time cue for entrainment and phase resetting of the circadian clock. In humans, exposure to long‐duration light (6.5 h) in the late evening/early night causes phase delays, suppresses melatonin and increases alertness. Here we studied the effects of different durations of exposure to a single high‐intensity (∼10,000 lux) light pulse (0.2 h, 1 h, 2.5 h and 4.0 h) on phase shifting, suppression of melatonin and self‐reported sleepiness in young men and women. Phase‐resetting and melatonin‐suppression responses were dose dependent and non‐linear; shorter light exposures more efficiently phase‐shift the clock, suppress melatonin and induce alertness. Abstract Light exposure in the early night induces phase delays of the circadian rhythm in melatonin in humans. Previous studies have investigated the effect of timing, intensity, wavelength, history and pattern of light stimuli on the human circadian timing system. We present results from a study of the duration–response relationship to phase‐delaying bright light. Thirty‐nine young healthy participants (16 female; 22.18 ± 3.62 years) completed a 9‐day inpatient study. Following three baseline days, participants underwent an initial circadian phase assessment procedure in dim light (<3 lux), and were then randomized for exposure to a bright light pulse (∼10,000 lux) of 0.2 h, 1.0 h, 2.5 h or 4.0 h duration during a 4.5 h controlled‐posture episode centred in a 16 h wake episode. After another 8 h sleep episode, participants completed a second circadian phase assessment. Phase shifts were calculated from the difference in the clock time of the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) between the initial and final phase assessments. Exposure to varying durations of bright light reset the circadian pacemaker in a dose‐dependent, non‐linear manner. Per minute of exposure, the 0.2 h duration was over 5 times more effective at phase delaying the circadian pacemaker (1.07 ± 0.36 h) as compared with the 4.0 h duration (2.65 ± 0.24 h). Acute melatonin suppression and subjective sleepiness also had a dose‐dependent response to light exposure duration. These results provide strong evidence for a non‐linear resetting response of the human circadian pacemaker to light duration.

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Crossref · 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226555

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  • The effect of light on circadian modifications depends on the time of day and on the duration, spectrum, and intensity of the light exposure.

    “The effect of light on these modifications has been shown to depend on the time of day and on the duration, spectrum (short vs long wavelength) and intensity (bright vs dim illuminance) of the light exposure [57,58].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [57]

  • A brief exposure (<12 minutes) to very bright light (∼10,000 lux) can induce modification of the melatonin concentration more efficiently per minute of light exposure than longer durations.

    “A brief exposure (<12 minutes) to very bright light (∼10,000 lux) can induce modification of the melatonin concentration more efficiently per minute of light exposure than longer durations [57,62].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [57]

  • The effect of the duration of light exposure on circadian phase resetting is non-linear and asymptotic for durations above ∼4 h.

    “The effect of the duration of the light exposure on circadian phase resetting has been shown to be non-linear and asymptotic for durations above ∼4 h.”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [57]

  • In the transition periods (morning and evening), the effect of light on circadian resetting appears to occur even after brief exposures and small changes in light exposure.

    “In particular, in the transition periods, i.e. morning and evening, the effect of light on circadian resetting appears to occur even after brief exposures and small changes in light exposure [56,57,60].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [57]

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Authors
Chang, A., Santhi, N., St Hilaire, M., Gronfier, C., Bradstreet, D. S., Duffy, J. F., Lockley, S. W., Kronauer, R. E., & Czeisler, C. A.
Affiliations
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
  • Harvard University (US)
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-05-30
Volume
590
Issue
13
Pages
3103-3112
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226555
PMC
PMC3406393
OpenAlex
W1607584924
Cited by
295
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 1
FWCI
7.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Harvard Catalyst
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL077453)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH045130)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01 RR 02635, UL1RR025758, M01RR002635)
  • NIH Clinical Center
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
Keywords
bright light exposure, circadian phase delay, phase resetting, melatonin suppression, dim light melatonin onset, light duration, dose-response relationship, nonlinear response, alertness, sleepiness, circadian pacemaker, chronobiology
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Light, Male, Melatonin, Sleep, Time Factors, Young Adult

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