title: Melatonin shifts human circadian rhythms according to a phase-response curve.
abstract: A physiological dose of orally administered melatonin shifts circadian rhythms in humans according to a phase-response curve (PRC) that is nearly opposite in phase with the PRCs for light exposure: melatonin delays circadian rhythms when administered in the morning and advances them when administered in the afternoon or early evening. The human melatonin PRC provides critical information for using melatonin to treat circadian phase sleep and mood disorders, as well as maladaptation to shift work and transmeridional air travel. The human melatonin PRC also provides the strongest evidence to date for a function of endogenous melatonin and its suppression by light in augmenting entrainment of circadian rhythms by the light-dark cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lewy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003624:Darkness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin