Sensitivity of the Human Circadian System to Short-Wavelength (420-nm) Light
Abstract
The circadian and neurobehavioral effects of light are primarily mediated by a retinal ganglion cell photoreceptor in the mammalian eye containing the photopigment melanopsin. Nine action spectrum studies using rodents, monkeys, and humans for these responses indicate peak sensitivities in the blue region of the visible spectrum ranging from 459 to 484 nm, with some disagreement in short-wavelength sensitivity of the spectrum. The aim of this work was to quantify the sensitivity of human volunteers to monochromatic 420-nm light for plasma melatonin suppression. Adult female ( n = 14) and male ( n = 12) subjects participated in 2 studies, each employing a within-subjects design. In a fluence-response study, subjects ( n = 8) were tested with 8 light irradiances at 420 nm ranging over a 4-log unit photon density range of 10 10 to 10 14 photons/cm 2 /sec and 1 dark exposure control night. In the other study, subjects ( n = 18) completed an experiment comparing melatonin suppression with equal photon doses (1.21 × 10 13 photons/cm 2 /sec) of 420 nm and 460 nm monochromatic light and a dark exposure control night. The first study demonstrated a clear fluence-response relationship between 420-nm light and melatonin suppression ( p < 0.001) with a half-saturation constant of 2.74 × 10 11 photons/cm 2 /sec. The second study showed that 460-nm light is significantly stronger than 420-nm light for suppressing melatonin ( p < 0.04). Together, the results clarify the visible short-wavelength sensitivity of the human melatonin suppression action spectrum. This basic physiological finding may be useful for optimizing lighting for therapeutic and other applications.
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Sensitivity of human nocturnal melatonin suppression peaks in the blue portion of the light spectrum around 460 nm, most effective in the range between 446 and 477 nm.
“Sensitivity of human nocturnal melatonin suppression 25, 26 peaks in the blue portion of the light spectrum around 460 nm, most effective in the range between 446 and 477 nm, manifesting a substantial contribution of short wavelength visible light not directly corresponding with an established single opsin maximum sensitivity 27.”
From The inner clock-Blue light sets the human rhythm (2019) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Brainard, G. C., Sliney, D., Hanifin, J. P., Glickman, G., Byrne, B., Greeson, J. M., Jasser, S., Gerner, E., & Rollag, M. D.
- Affiliations
- Thomas Jefferson University (US)
- U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Brainard, George C.
- Venue
- Journal of Biological Rhythms
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-10
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 379-386
- ISSN
- 0748-7304 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4531
- OpenAlex
- W2163521873
- Cited by
- 260
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 5.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Biological Rhythms (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The Medicine Forum (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS36590, R01NS036590)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Light effects on plants
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Keywords
- circadian system, short-wavelength light, blue light, melatonin suppression, action spectrum, melanopsin, retinal ganglion cells, half-saturation constant, light irradiance, circadian photoreception
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Light, Male, Melatonin, Models, Biological, Neurosecretory Systems, Pineal Gland, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Vision, Ocular, Photons
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