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Submitted on May 27, 2004
Accepted on November 23, 2004
Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinic, Wilhelm Kleinstr. 27, CH-4025 Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; Eye Clinic, University Hospital, Mittlerestr 91, CH-4012 Basel, Switzerland
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: christian.cajochen{at}pukbasel.ch.
Light can elicit acute physiological and alerting responses in humans - the magnitude of which depend on the timing, intensity and duration of light exposure. We report here that light's alerting response 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 significant greater melatonin suppression than occurred with 550 nm monochromatic light, concomitant with a significant greater alerting response and increased core body temperature and heart rate (
2.8 x 1013 photons/cm2/s for each light treatment). Light diminished the distal-proximal skin temperature gradient, a measure of the degree of vasoconstriction, independent of wavelength. Non-classical 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 a further role for these novel photoreceptors in modifying human alertness, thermophysiology and heart rate.
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