Spectral sensitivity of circadian phase resetting, melatonin suppression and acute alerting effects of intermittent light exposure

Abstract Intermittent light (IML) pulses are more efficient per minute of exposure than continuous exposure in resetting the phase of the human circadian pacemaker. We assessed the spectral sensitivity in phase resetting, melatonin suppression and alertness induced by IML pulses. Twelve healthy young adults (6 females; mean age ± SD = 25.4 ± 3.6 years) were exposed to six monochromatic light pulses (2.8 x 1013 photons/cm2/s) over a 6.5 h window during the biological night. Six participants (3F) received 6 x 15-minute 460 nm (blue) pulses and six participants received 6 x 2-minute 555 nm (green) light pulses. Results were compared to historical data in 16 individuals who received continuous 460 nm (n=8) or 555 nm (n=8) light exposure using an identical protocol. As expected, long duration continuous 460 nm light exposure induced the largest total phase delay shifts, but intermittent 555 nm light induced the largest phase delay shifts per minute of the photic stimulus. Melatonin suppression was significantly higher under continuous light exposure compared to intermittent exposure patterns, and for 460 nm versus 555 nm exposure (under both light patterns). These data extend prior work showing a non-linear relationship between light exposure duration and phase resetting responses and illustrate the potential role of light wavelength, and therefore photoreceptor recruitment, in mediating these responses.