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

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

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

323 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 - 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

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@article{0079f036109d4c77999b326afacd406e,

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

note = "Funding Information: We wish to thank the nursing staff of the OHSU GCRC and to acknowledge the assistance of Richard Boney, Neil Anderson, and Aaron Clemons. This work was supported by Public Health Service research grants R01 MH40161, KO2 MH00703, KO2 MH01005 (R. L. S.), PO1 AG10794, and M01 RR00334 (OHSU GCRC) and by a grant from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression.",

year = "1998",

doi = "10.3109/07420529808998671",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "15",

pages = "71--83",

journal = "Chronobiology International",

issn = "0742-0528",

publisher = "Informa Healthcare",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

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

AU - Lewy, Alfred J.

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 L.

N1 - Funding Information: We wish to thank the nursing staff of the OHSU GCRC and to acknowledge the assistance of Richard Boney, Neil Anderson, and Aaron Clemons. This work was supported by Public Health Service research grants R01 MH40161, KO2 MH00703, KO2 MH01005 (R. L. S.), PO1 AG10794, and M01 RR00334 (OHSU GCRC) and by a grant from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression.

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

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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JO - Chronobiology International

JF - Chronobiology International

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ER -

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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