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Action Spectrum for Melatonin Regulation in Humans: Evidence for a Novel Circadian Photoreceptor
Open accessAbstract
The photopigment in the human eye that transduces light for circadian and neuroendocrine regulation, is unknown. The aim of this study was to establish an action spectrum for light-induced melatonin suppression that could help elucidate the ocular photoreceptor system for regulating the human pineal gland. Subjects (37 females, 35 males, mean age of 24.5 +/- 0.3 years) were healthy and had normal color vision. Full-field, monochromatic light exposures took place between 2:00 and 3:30 A.M. while subjects' pupils were dilated. Blood samples collected before and after light exposures were quantified for melatonin. Each subject was tested with at least seven different irradiances of one wavelength with a minimum of 1 week between each nighttime exposure. Nighttime melatonin suppression tests (n = 627) were completed with wavelengths from 420 to 600 nm. The data were fit to eight univariant, sigmoidal fluence-response curves (R(2) = 0.81-0.95). The action spectrum constructed from these data fit an opsin template (R(2) = 0.91), which identifies 446-477 nm as the most potent wavelength region providing circadian input for regulating melatonin secretion. The results suggest that, in humans, a single photopigment may be primarily responsible for melatonin suppression, and its peak absorbance appears to be distinct from that of rod and cone cell photopigments for vision. The data also suggest that this new photopigment is retinaldehyde based. These findings suggest that there is a novel opsin photopigment in the human eye that mediates circadian photoreception.
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“The system mediating melatonin suppression has a spectral sensitivity that is broadly consistent with the spectral sensitivity of melanopsin [17, 60, 88].”
From Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood (2019) · cites this paper as [17]
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“It influences the circadian system and is the most sensitive to light with a wavelength of about 480 nm (blue light) [9-11].”
From Low-intensity blue-enriched white light (750 lux) and standard bright light (10 000 lux) are equally effective in treating SAD. A randomized controlled study (2011) · cites this paper as [9]
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“Photoreceptor cells containing melanopsin play a role in the phase-shifting effects of short-wavelength light.”
From Low-intensity blue-enriched white light (750 lux) and standard bright light (10 000 lux) are equally effective in treating SAD. A randomized controlled study (2011) · cites this paper as [9]
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“and produced negligible effects on circadian rhythms (16).”
From Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial (2018) · cites this paper as [16]
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“Blue light (~480 nm) most strongly stimulates the melanopsin photopigment ipRGCs, whereas red light (>600 nm) has minimal effect35.”
From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [35]
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“In humans, exposure to short-wavelength monochromatic light in the evening has been shown to induce greater circadian and alerting responses than exposure to the same number of photons of longer-wavelength monochromatic light (17 -19, 28 -34), even though the shorter-wavelength light may have a much lower illuminance level when measured in photopic lux (35).”
From Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness. (2015) · cites this paper as [29]
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“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 [26]
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“All participants were additionally provided filtered goggles, in case of unanticipated light exposure, and red nightlights for rooms where light was necessary (e.g., bathrooms) to minimize melatonin suppression57.”
From Irregular sleep/wake patterns are associated with poorer academic performance and delayed circadian and sleep/wake timing (2017) · cites this paper as [57]
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“Exposure to short wavelength visible light (between 400 and 500 nm, i.e. blue and blue-enriched light) has a stronger influence on the circadian resetting than longer wavelength light [63–66].”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
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“Recent studies have found that light in the blue spectrum (446–477) outperforms other wavelengths in melatonin suppression, circadian phase shifting, and antidepressant effects (Brainard et al., 2001; Thapan et al., 2001; Lockley et al., 2003; Glickman et al., 2006).”
From Circadian genes, rhythms and the biology of mood disorders (2007) · cites this paper as Brainard et al., 2001
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Metadata
- Authors
- Brainard, G. C., Hanifin, J. P., Greeson, J. M., Byrne, B., Glickman, G., Gerner, E., & Rollag, M. D.
- Affiliations
- Thomas Jefferson University (US)
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
- Venue
- The Journal of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Published
- 2001-08-15
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 6405-6412
- ISSN
- 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-2401
- PMC
- PMC6763155
- OpenAlex
- W2115908598
- Cited by
- 1,930
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 89 · 2025: 81 · 2024: 78 · 2023: 95 · 2022: 102 · 2021: 123 · 2020: 114 · 2019: 120 · 2018: 97 · 2017: 92 · 2016: 92 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 84 · 2013: 84 · 2012: 83
- FWCI
- 9.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (9809916, NCC 9-58)
- U.S. Department of Defense
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NCC958)
- National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NCC 9‐58)
- National Institutes of Health (NCC9-58)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS36590, R01NS036590)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Retinal Development and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Keywords
- melatonin suppression, circadian photoreception, circadian photoreceptors, action spectrum, pineal gland, retinal photopigments, opsin, retinal, circadian rhythm, neuroendocrine regulation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Eye, Female, Humans, Light, Male, Melatonin, Mydriatics, Photic Stimulation, Time Factors, Rod Opsins, Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate
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