Effects of evening bright light exposure on melatonin, body temperature and sleep

Bunnell, David E.; Treiber, Scott P.; Phillips, Nathan; Berger, Ralph J.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2869.1992.tb00003.x

Cited by 30 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Contradictory findings have been reported in bright light studies in which both temperature and sleep were assessed. Bunnell et al (1992) found a steeper decline in tympanic and rectal temperature following exposure to bright light in the evening; the decline was associated with increased EEG slow-wave activity and a nonsignificant reduction in sleep latency. However, Cajochen et al (1992) reported increased rectal temperature and sleep latency, as well as attenuated EEG slow-wave activity after late night bright light exposure.…”

Section: Effects On Sleep Of Changes In Thermoregulation and Body Andmentioning

confidence: 92%

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

Someren

2000

Chronobiology International

286

193

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The neurobiological mechanisms of both sleep and circadian regulation have been unraveled partly in the last decades. A network of brain structures, rather than a single locus, is involved in arousal state regulation, whereas the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has been recognized as a key structure for the regulation of circadian rhythms. Although most models of sleep regulation include a circadian component, the actual mechanism by which the circadian timing system promotes--in addition to homeostatic pressure--transitions between sleep and wakefulness remains to be elucidated. Little more can be stated presently than a probable involvement of neuronal projections and neurohumoral factors originating in the SCN. This paper reviews the relation among body temperature, arousal state, and the circadian timing system and proposes that the circadian temperature rhythm provides an additional signaling pathway for the circadian modulation of sleep and wakefulness. A review of the literature shows that increased brain temperature is associated with a type of neuronal activation typical of sleep in some structures (hypothalamus, basal forebrain), but typical of wakefulness in others (midbrain reticular formation, thalamus). Not only local temperature, but also skin temperature are related to the activation type in these structures. Warming of the skin is associated with an activation type typical of sleep in the midbrain reticular formation, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex (CC). The decreasing part of the circadian rhythm in core temperature is mainly determined by heat loss from the skin of the extremities, which is associated with strongly increased skin temperature. As such, alterations in core and skin temperature over the day could modulate the neuronal activation state or "preparedness for sleep" in arousal-related brain structures. Body temperature may thus provide a third signaling pathway, in addition to synaptic and neurohumoral pathways, for the circadian modulation of sleep. A proposed model for the effects of body temperature on sleep appears to fit the available data better than previous hypotheses on the relation between temperature and sleep. Moreover, when the effects of age-related thermoregulatory alterations are introduced into the model, it provides an adequate description of age-related changes in sleep, including shallow sleep and awakening closer to the nocturnal core temperature minimum. Finally, the model indicates that appropriately timed direct (passive heating) or indirect (bright light, melatonin, physical activity) manipulation of the nocturnal profile of skin and core temperature may be beneficial to disturbed sleep in the elderly. Although such procedures could be viewed by researchers as merely masking a marker for the endogenous rhythm, they may in fact be crucial for sleep improvement in elderly subjects.

show abstract

Section: Effects On Sleep Of Changes In Thermoregulation and Body Andmentioning

confidence: 92%

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

Someren

2000

Chronobiology International

286

193

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Deterioration of circadian rhythms in elderly is thought to contribute to sleep disturbances and reduced daytime functioning, and finding ways in which to improve the circadian timing system may therefore be of interest for the well-being of elderly (Van Someren et al, 1993a). Bright light, the primary modulator of the circadian timing system, is indeed effective both in increasing vigilance (Badia et al, 1991;Campbell and Dawson, 1990) and in improving subsequent sleep (Bunnell et al, 1992;Campbell et al, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Long-Term Fitness Training Improves the Circadian Rest-Activity Rhythm in Healthy Elderly Males

et al. 1997

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In old age, the circadian timing system loses optimal functioning. This process is even accelerated in Alzheimer's disease. Because pharmacological treatment of day-night rhythm disturbances usually is not very effective and may have considerable side effects, nonpharmacological treatments deserve attention. Bright light therapy has been shown to be effective. It is known from animal studies that increased activity, or an associated process, also strongly affects the circadian timing system, and the present study addresses the question of whether an increased level of physical activity may improve circadian rhythms in elderly. In the study, 10 healthy elderly males were admitted to a fitness training program for 3 months. The circadian rest-activity rhythm was assessed by means of actigraphy before and after the training period and again 1 year after discontinuation. As a control for possible seasonal effects, repeated actigraphic recordings were performed during the same times of the year as were the pre and post measurements in a control group of 8 healthy elderly males. Fitness training induced a significant reduction in the fragmentation of the rest-activity rhythm. Moreover, the fragmentation of the rhythm was negatively correlated with the level of fitness achieved after the training. No seasonal effect was found. Previous findings in human and animal studies are reviewed, and several possible mechanisms involved in the effect of fitness training on circadian rhythms are discussed. The results suggest that fitness training may be helpful in elderly people suffering from sleep problems related to circadian rhythm disturbances.

show abstract

“…In humans, melatonin taken in the early evening, which has clock-shifting effects similar to light exposure in the early morning (eastward travel), REM duration increases independently of changes in NREM sleep 66. When traveling in the opposite direction and the clock is delayed, there is an increase in REM sleep latency 67. This effect could be due to an increase in SWA and other components of NREM sleep that are associated with rebound to sleep deprivation, and REM might later show a compensatory rebound on subsequent nights.…”

Section: Transient Disruption Of the Circadian System: Jet Lagmentioning

confidence: 99%

Jet lag syndrome: circadian organization, pathophysiology, and management strategies

Vosko

Colwell²,

Avidan

2010

NSS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The circadian system regulates the cyclical occurrence of wakefulness and sleep through a series of oscillatory networks that comprise two different theoretical processes. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus contains the master oscillatory network necessary for coordinating these daily rhythms, and in addition to its ability to robustly generate rhythms, it can also synchronize to environmental light cues. During jet lag, abrupt shifts in the environmental light–dark cycle temporarily desynchronize the SCN and downstream oscillatory networks from each other, resulting in increased sleepiness and impaired daytime functioning. Polysomnographic data show that not only does jet lag result in changes of sleep–wake timing, but also in different aspects of sleep architecture. This type of circadian misalignment can further lead to a cluster of symptoms including major metabolic, cardiovascular, psychiatric, and neurological impairments. There are a number of treatment options for jet lag involving bright light exposure, melatonin, and use of hypnotics, but their efficacy greatly depends on their time of use, the length of time in the new time zone, and the specific circadian disturbance involved. The aim of this review is to provide mechanistic links between the fields of sleep and circadian rhythms to understand the biological basis of jet lag and to apply this information to clinical management strategies.

show abstract

Effects of evening bright light exposure on melatonin, body temperature and sleep

Abstract: SUMMARY Five male subjects were exposed to a single 2-h period of bright (2500 lux) or dim ( Show more

Cited by 30 publications

References 26 publications

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

More Than a Marker: Interaction Between the Circadian Regulation of Temperature and Sleep, Age-Related Changes, and Treatment Possibilities

Long-Term Fitness Training Improves the Circadian Rest-Activity Rhythm in Healthy Elderly Males

Jet lag syndrome: circadian organization, pathophysiology, and management strategies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About