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Cited by 95Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Work-Related FatigueHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Effects of bright light and melatonin on sleep propensity, temperature, and cardiac activity at night

Burgess, Helen J., Sletten, Tracey, Savic, Natasha, Gilbert, Saul S., Dawson, Drew·2001·Journal of Applied Physiology
DOI 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.3.1214
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Abstract

Melatonin increases sleepiness, decreases core temperature, and increases peripheral temperature in humans. Melatonin may produce these effects by activating peripheral receptors or altering autonomic activity. The latter hypothesis was investigated in 16 supine subjects. Three conditions were created by using bright light and exogenous melatonin: normal endogenous, suppressed, and pharmacological melatonin levels. Data during wakefulness from 1.5 h before to 2.5 h after each subject's estimated melatonin onset (wake time + 14 h) were analyzed. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (cardiac parasympathetic activity) and preejection period (cardiac sympathetic activity) did not vary among conditions. Pharmacological melatonin levels significantly decreased systolic blood pressure [5.75 ± 1.65 (SE) mmHg] but did not significantly change heart rate. Suppressed melatonin significantly increased rectal temperature (0.27 ± 0.06°C), decreased foot temperature (1.98 ± 0.70°C), and increased sleep onset latency (5.53 ± 1.87 min). Thus melatonin does not significantly alter cardiac autonomic activity and instead may bind to peripheral receptors in the vasculature and heart. Furthermore, increases in cardiac parasympathetic activity before normal nighttime sleep cannot be attributed to the concomitant increase in endogenous melatonin.

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Crossref · 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.3.1214

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  • The data from the present study do not provide support for the concept that melatonin increases cardiac vagal tone in humans.

    “Thus, the data from the present study do not provide support for this concept in humans, and are in agreement with earlier studies employing spectral analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmias (Burgess et al. 2001; Harris et al. 2001).”

    From Melatonin attenuates the sympathetic nerve responses to orthostatic stress in humans (2003) · cites this paper as Burgess et al. 2001

  • The data from the present study are in agreement with earlier studies employing spectral analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmias.

    “Thus, the data from the present study do not provide support for this concept in humans, and are in agreement with earlier studies employing spectral analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmias (Burgess et al. 2001; Harris et al. 2001).”

    From Melatonin attenuates the sympathetic nerve responses to orthostatic stress in humans (2003) · cites this paper as Burgess et al. 2001

  • Melatonin enhances heat loss by influencing peripheral vasodilatation, resulting in modification of core body and distal skin temperatures and regulation of sleep.

    “Melatonin enhances heat loss by influencing peripheral vasodilatation [54,55], which results in modification of core body and distal skin temperatures and regulation of sleep [7,8].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [55]

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Authors
Burgess, H. J., Sletten, T., Savic, N., Gilbert, S. S., & Dawson, D.
Affiliations
University of South Australia (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Published
2001-09-01
Volume
91
Issue
3
Pages
1214-1222
ISSN
  • 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
  • 8750-7587
  • 1522-1601
DOI
10.1152/jappl.2001.91.3.1214
OpenAlex
W2157905689
Cited by
94
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Keywords
melatonin, bright light, sleep propensity, sleep latency, cardiac autonomic activity, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, pre-ejection period, core body temperature, peripheral temperature, blood pressure, nocturnal sleep
MeSH terms
Adult, Anticonvulsants, Arrhythmia, Sinus, Blood Pressure, Body Temperature, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Lighting, Male, Melatonin, Respiration, Saliva, Sleep, Sympathetic Nervous System

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