Correlated color temperature and light intensity: Complementary features in non-visual light field

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 12;16(7):e0254171. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254171. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

An appropriate exposure to the light-dark cycle, with high irradiances during the day and darkness during the night is essential to keep our physiology on time. However, considering the increasing exposure to artificial light at night and its potential harmful effects on health (i.e. chronodisruption and associated health conditions), it is essential to understand the non-visual effects of light in humans. Melatonin suppression is considered the gold standard for nocturnal light effects, and the activation of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) through the assessment of pupillary light reflex (PLR) has been recently gaining attention. Also, some theoretical models for melatonin suppression and retinal photoreceptors activation have been proposed. Our aim in this study was to determine the influence of correlated color temperature (CCT) on melatonin suppression and PLR, considering two commercial light sources, as well as to explore the possible correlation between both processes. Also, the contribution of irradiance (associated to CCT) was explored through mathematical modelling on a wider range of light sources. For that, melatonin suppression and PLR were experimentally assessed on 16 healthy and young volunteers under two light conditions (warmer, CCT 3000 K; and cooler, CCT 5700 K, at ~5·1018 photons/cm2/sec). Our experimental results yielded greater post-stimulus constriction under the cooler (5700 K, 13.3 ± 1.9%) than under the warmer light (3000 K, 8.7 ± 1.2%) (p < 0.01), although no significant differences were found between both conditions in terms of melatonin suppression. Interestingly, we failed to demonstrate correlation between PLR and melatonin suppression. Although methodological limitations cannot be discarded, this could be due to the existence of different subpopulations of Type 1 ipRGCs differentially contributing to PLR and melatonin suppression, which opens the way for further research on ipRGCs projection in humans. The application of theoretical modelling suggested that CCT should not be considered separately from irradiance when designing nocturnal/diurnal illumination systems. Further experimental studies on wider ranges of CCTs and light intensities are needed to confirm these conclusions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Circadian Rhythm / radiation effects
  • Color
  • Computer Simulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Light*
  • Male
  • Melatonin / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Reflex, Pupillary / physiology
  • Reflex, Pupillary / radiation effects
  • Saliva / metabolism
  • Temperature*
  • Vision, Ocular / radiation effects*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Melatonin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III through a CIBERFES grant (CB16/10/00239), Fundación Séneca through grant 19899/GERM/15 awarded to JAM; the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and Agencia Estatal de Investigación through grant RTI2018-093528-B-I00 and Diabfrail LatAm (European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme No 825546) awarded to MAR (all of them co-financed by FEDER). Research fellowship granted to MAB-C (20401/SF/17. Fundación Séneca. Región de Murcia (Spain)) and to RA-P (FPU13/01421) by Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.