The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin is about 12 hours out of phase with the PRC to light

Alfred Lewy; Vance K. Bauer; Saeeduddin Ahmed; Katherine H. Thomas; Neil L. Cutler; Clifford M. Singer; Mary T. Moffit; Robert Sack

doi:10.3109/07420529808998671

The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin is about 12 hours out of phase with the PRC to light

Alfred Lewy, Vance K. Bauer, Saeeduddin Ahmed, Katherine H. Thomas, Neil L. Cutler, Clifford M. Singer, Mary T. Moffit, Robert Sack

Psychiatry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

300 Scopus citations

Abstract

Melatonin's timekeeping function is undoubtedly related to the fact that it is primarily produced during nighttime darkness; that is, melatonin and light occur at opposite times. The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin appears to be about 12h out of phase with the PRC to light. These striking complementarities, together with light's acute suppressant effect on melatonin production, suggest that a function for endogenous melatonin is to augment entrainment of the circadian pacemaker by the light-dark cycle. The melatonin PRC also indicates correct administration times for using exogenous melatonin to treat circadian phase disorders.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	71-83
Number of pages	13
Journal	Chronobiology International
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3109/07420529808998671
State	Published - Jan 1 1998

Keywords

Circadian phase disorders
Dim light melatonin onset
Light phase response curve
Melatonin administration
Melatonin phase response curve

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physiology
Physiology (medical)

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10.3109/07420529808998671

Cite this

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title = "The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin is about 12 hours out of phase with the PRC to light",

abstract = "Melatonin's timekeeping function is undoubtedly related to the fact that it is primarily produced during nighttime darkness; that is, melatonin and light occur at opposite times. The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin appears to be about 12h out of phase with the PRC to light. These striking complementarities, together with light's acute suppressant effect on melatonin production, suggest that a function for endogenous melatonin is to augment entrainment of the circadian pacemaker by the light-dark cycle. The melatonin PRC also indicates correct administration times for using exogenous melatonin to treat circadian phase disorders.",

keywords = "Circadian phase disorders, Dim light melatonin onset, Light phase response curve, Melatonin administration, Melatonin phase response curve",

author = "Alfred Lewy and Bauer, {Vance K.} and Saeeduddin Ahmed and Thomas, {Katherine H.} and Cutler, {Neil L.} and Singer, {Clifford M.} and Moffit, {Mary T.} and Robert Sack",

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T1 - The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin is about 12 hours out of phase with the PRC to light

AU - Lewy, Alfred

AU - Bauer, Vance K.

AU - Ahmed, Saeeduddin

AU - Thomas, Katherine H.

AU - Cutler, Neil L.

AU - Singer, Clifford M.

AU - Moffit, Mary T.

AU - Sack, Robert

PY - 1998/1/1

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N2 - Melatonin's timekeeping function is undoubtedly related to the fact that it is primarily produced during nighttime darkness; that is, melatonin and light occur at opposite times. The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin appears to be about 12h out of phase with the PRC to light. These striking complementarities, together with light's acute suppressant effect on melatonin production, suggest that a function for endogenous melatonin is to augment entrainment of the circadian pacemaker by the light-dark cycle. The melatonin PRC also indicates correct administration times for using exogenous melatonin to treat circadian phase disorders.

AB - Melatonin's timekeeping function is undoubtedly related to the fact that it is primarily produced during nighttime darkness; that is, melatonin and light occur at opposite times. The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin appears to be about 12h out of phase with the PRC to light. These striking complementarities, together with light's acute suppressant effect on melatonin production, suggest that a function for endogenous melatonin is to augment entrainment of the circadian pacemaker by the light-dark cycle. The melatonin PRC also indicates correct administration times for using exogenous melatonin to treat circadian phase disorders.

KW - Circadian phase disorders

KW - Dim light melatonin onset

KW - Light phase response curve

KW - Melatonin administration

KW - Melatonin phase response curve

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The human phase response curve (PRC) to melatonin is about 12 hours out of phase with the PRC to light

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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