Document Detail


High sensitivity of human melatonin, alertness, thermoregulation, and heart rate to short wavelength light.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15585546     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Light can elicit acute physiological and alerting responses in humans, the magnitude of which depends on the timing, intensity, and duration of light exposure. Here, we report that the alerting response of light as well as its effects on thermoregulation and heart rate are also wavelength dependent. Exposure to 2 h of monochromatic light at 460 nm in the late evening induced a significantly greater melatonin suppression than occurred with 550-nm monochromatic light, concomitant with a significantly greater alerting response and increased core body temperature and heart rate ( approximately 2.8 x 10(13) photons/cm(2)/sec for each light treatment). Light diminished the distal-proximal skin temperature gradient, a measure of the degree of vasoconstriction, independent of wavelength. Nonclassical ocular photoreceptors with peak sensitivity around 460 nm have been found to regulate circadian rhythm function as measured by melatonin suppression and phase shifting. Our findings-that the sensitivity of the human alerting response to light and its thermoregulatory sequelae are blue-shifted relative to the three-cone visual photopic system-indicate an additional role for these novel photoreceptors in modifying human alertness, thermophysiology, and heart rate.
Authors:
Christian Cajochen; Mirjam Münch; Szymon Kobialka; Kurt Kräuchi; Roland Steiner; Peter Oelhafen; Selim Orgül; Anna Wirz-Justice
Related Documents :
1977416 - Effects of light and an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist on serotonin n-acetyltransferase act...
18532666 - Predictions for the influence of the nocturnal jet on the long range propagation of imp...
9285086 - Suppression of melatonin secretion by bright light in seasonal affective disorder.
16842536 - Persistence of a plasma melatonin rhythm in constant darkness and its inhibition by con...
18530476 - Magnitude judgments of loudness change for discrete, dynamic, and hybrid stimuli.
1490646 - Computerised measurement of fundamental frequency in scottish neoglottal patients.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2004-12-07
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism     Volume:  90     ISSN:  0021-972X     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.     Publication Date:  2005 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-03-10     Completed Date:  2005-04-12     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375362     Medline TA:  J Clin Endocrinol Metab     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1311-6     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinic, Wilhelm Kleinstr. 27, CH-4025 Basel, Switzerland. christian.cajochen@pukbasel.ch
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Body Temperature Regulation / physiology,  radiation effects*
Circadian Rhythm / physiology,  radiation effects
Color
Heart Rate / physiology,  radiation effects*
Humans
Light*
Male
Melatonin / metabolism*
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology
Sleep Stages / physiology,  radiation effects
Wakefulness / physiology,  radiation effects*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
73-31-4/Melatonin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Flower size variation in Rosmarinus officinalis: individuals, populations and habitats.
Next Document:  Human plasma ghrelin levels increase during a one-year exercise program.