Possible behavioral consequences of light-induced changes in melatonin availability.

Abstract

Melatonin is a hormone secreted at night, in the dark, by the human pineal organ. This nocturnal release of melatonin, in humans and other species, is rapidly suppressed by exposure to sufficiently bright light. In humans, the function, if any, of this circadian pattern of melatonin release has not been determined. In fact, no function has been definitively attributed to the hormone melatonin in humans. In one study, conducted in our laboratory, pharmacologic doses of oral melatonin (240 mg over two hours) were administered to volunteers, and various behavioral parameters were assessed. Melatonin had substantial, but brief, sedative-like effects on mood and performance. Thus it appears that a mechanism exists, whereby light, of sufficient intensity to affect melatonin release in humans, can affect behavior. It can be hypothesized that sufficiently bright light, acting by way of the suppression of melatonin release, can acutely increase alertness or act as a zeitgeber (synchronizer of circadian cycles). The light intensity necessary to suppress melatonin secretion in humans is well above typical indoor lighting conditions, but well below normal outdoor daytime levels of illumination. Therefore, the hypothesis that light may affect behavior or circadian patterns of sleep and waking, if found to be true, could have considerable impact on the design of interior lighting.