Light in ecological settings: Entrainment, circadian disruption, and interventions

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Document Type

Contribution to a Book

Publication Title

Progress in Brain Research

Volume

273

Issue

1

DOI

10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.04.001

First Page

303

Last Page

330

Abstract

Light is the predominant signal for the human circadian clock to synchronize to the solar 24-h day through an active process called entrainment. Modern light profiles are characterized by exposure to both natural daylight and artificial lighting. A mismatch between these self-selected light profiles and the solar day-night alternation can disrupt the circadian system, resulting in acute and chronic effects for health and safety. In this chapter, we describe (i) how entrainment works in the real world, illustrating the major role of light for this process; (ii) ways in which the circadian system can be disrupted by (external) factors such as irregular sleep, shift work, daylight saving time, and longitudinal position in a time zone; and (iii) how field studies have used light interventions to reduce direct and indirect effects of circadian disruption in ecological settings.

Keywords

Chronodisruption, Chronotype, Circadian, Entrainment, Occupational, Shift work, Sleep, Sleep regularity, Social jetlag

Department

Psychology; Research Foundation

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