Circadian light
Open accessAbstract
The present paper reflects a work in progress toward a definition of circadian light, one that should be informed by the thoughtful, century-old evolution of our present definition of light as a stimulus for the human visual system. This work in progress is based upon the functional relationship between optical radiation and its effects on nocturnal melatonin suppression, in large part because the basic data are available in the literature. Discussed here are the fundamental differences between responses by the visual and circadian systems to optical radiation. Brief reviews of photometry, colorimetry, and brightness perception are presented as a foundation for the discussion of circadian light. Finally, circadian light (CLA) and circadian stimulus (CS) calculation procedures based on a published mathematical model of human circadian phototransduction are presented with an example.
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Blue light is more efficient in melatonin suppression than other wavelengths, and can thus be seen as the most potent zeitgeber.
“This result, suggesting that blue‐enriched white light synchronized the circadian rhythm, is corroborated with other results showing that blue light is more efficient in melatonin suppression than other wavelengths 65, 66, and can thus be seen as the most potent zeitgeber.”
From The inner clock-Blue light sets the human rhythm (2019) · cites this paper as [66]
In “Spectral sensitivity of the circadian system” (page unavailable), the paper discusses short-wavelength light and models nocturnal melatonin suppression across wavelengths. It does not establish that blue light is the most potent zeitgeber: the same section says comparable spectral-sensitivity functions for phase shifting are not available, so melatonin suppression alone cannot support that conclusion. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBlue-enriched white light synchronized the circadian rhythm.
“This result, suggesting that blue‐enriched white light synchronized the circadian rhythm, is corroborated with other results showing that blue light is more efficient in melatonin suppression than other wavelengths 65, 66, and can thus be seen as the most potent zeitgeber.”
From The inner clock-Blue light sets the human rhythm (2019) · cites this paper as [66]
The Introduction says that the daily light–dark pattern synchronizes the circadian clock to a 24-hour period. The Spectral sensitivity section discusses light spectra and melatonin suppression, but neither section reports that blue-enriched white light synchronized a circadian rhythm; that specific result is not supported by this paper. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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- Authors
- Rea, M. S., Figueiro, M. G., Bierman, A., & Bullough, J. D.
- Affiliations
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rea, Mark S
- Venue
- Journal of Circadian Rhythms
- Publisher
- Ubiquity Press, Ltd.
- Published
- 2010-02-13
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 0
- Pages
- 2
- ISSN
- 1740-3391 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2851666
- OpenAlex
- W3191609688
- Cited by
- 279
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 6.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Circadian Rhythms (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ubiquity Press Ltd - Journal of Circadian Rhythms (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (0812056)
- National Institutes of Health (R01 OH008171)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- 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
- circadian stimulus, melatonin suppression, optical radiation, circadian phototransduction, visual system, photometry, colorimetry, brightness perception, mathematical model
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