Daytime Light, Performance and Sleep

摘要

The discovery of intrisically photosensitive, retinal ganglion cells, the photopigment melanopsin and the description of its action spectrum some ten years ago, initiated a rapid development in the field of light and health. Research in animals and humans has shown a surprising similarity in molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways between unicells, amphibians as well as mammmals including humans. These nonvisual light effects contribute to the regulation of e.g. the circadian timing system, sleep-wake, performance, learning, temperature, heart rate and metabolism. The introduction of new light sources is unlikely to worsen the current situation with respect to the nonvisual, eye-mediated, biological effects of light. Rather these new devices will enable light industry, clinical chronobiologists and architects to improve health, save energy and improve learning and performance in large parts of the population. The magnitude of this potential benefit can hardly be overestimated. In order to provide these groups with concrete instructions for application human experimental and applicational studies are desperately needed.