title: Measuring and using light in the melanopsin age.
abstract: Light is a potent stimulus for regulating circadian, hormonal, and behavioral systems. In addition, light therapy is effective for certain affective disorders, sleep problems, and circadian rhythm disruption. These biological and behavioral effects of light are influenced by a distinct photoreceptor in the eye, melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), in addition to conventional rods and cones. We summarize the neurophysiology of this newly described sensory pathway and consider implications for the measurement, production, and application of light. A new light-measurement strategy taking account of the complex photoreceptive inputs to these non-visual responses is proposed for use by researchers, and simple suggestions for artificial/architectural lighting are provided for regulatory authorities, lighting manufacturers, designers, and engineers.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. Electronic address: robert.lucas@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Peirson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Box G-LN, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Berson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: INSERM 846 Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Department of Chronobiology, 18 Avenue du Doyen Lépine, 69500 Bron, France.
authors.forename: Howard M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Czeisler
authors.affiliation: Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Mariana G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Figueiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gamlin
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lockley
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: O'Hagan
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK.
authors.forename: Luke L A
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Provencio
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Skene
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philidelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: George.Brainard@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brainard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000639:trends*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000502:physiology*; D000099210:Melanopsin
chemical_list: D017299:Rod Opsins; D000099210:Melanopsin