Implementing integrative lighting in conventional office luminaires: Effects on melatonin secretion and sleepiness

Abstract

The discovery of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in the eye and their interaction with melatonin has shown that light has significant effects beyond vision. The present study compared the effect of an integrative lighting system, providing low-intensity melanopic illuminance with the effect of an ordinary, qualitatively equivalent, electric lighting system. The study utilised a 2 × 7 randomised mixed experimental design. The sample consisted of 13 women and 11 men. Salivary melatonin secretion and subjectively perceived sleepiness in the evening were measured every half hour during 3 hours of light exposure. The chronobiologic typology (stability and amplitude) and trait-like negative and positive affect were measured once and analysed as covariates. The results showed a general increasing linear effect for both melatonin and sleepiness. A significant nonlinear effect of time was present in the group exposed to integrative lighting, indicating delayed melatonin secretion. The findings were stable across all levels of the examined covariates. These results confirm that the integrative lighting system produces effects beyond vision under otherwise ordinary lighting conditions. Furthermore, the results corroborate research suggesting that melatonin secretion and sleepiness may not be directly linked. The integrative lighting system provides new opportunities to develop indoor electric lighting resembling daylight.