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[6] [4] Light seems to have therapeutic antidepressant effects when an organism is exposed to it at appropriate times during the circadian rhythm, regulating the sleep-wake cycle. [6] [4] In addition to mood, learning and memory become impaired when the circadian system shifts due to light stimuli, [6] [20] which can be seen in studies modeling ...
The secretion of many hormones is affected by sleep-wake cycles. For example, melatonin , a hormonal timekeeper, is considered a strongly circadian hormone, whose secretion increases at dim light and peaks during nocturnal sleep, diminishing with bright light to the eyes. [ 132 ]
The circadian rhythm provides a person with a signal for when to sleep and when to wake up. [43] If circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle are misaligned, this might lead to negative affect and emotional instability. [44] It has been found that emotions vary depending on the circadian rhythm and the duration of how long one was awake. [45]
Don't get SAD this time change: How turning back the clocks increases the risk of seasonal affective disorder
The primary difference appears to be that pre-light cultures have more broken-up sleep patterns. For example, people without artificial light might go to sleep far sooner after the sun sets, but then wake up several times throughout the night, punctuating their sleep with periods of wakefulness, perhaps lasting several hours. [146]
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The natural light provided by the sunrise may contribute to a reduction in sleep inertia effects. Research simulating increase of light at dawn was shown to potentiate the cortisol awakening response (CAR). [5] The CAR is a spike in blood cortisol levels following awakening, and is associated with the return to an alert cognitive state.
“Encourage activities and exposure to natural light during the day to support healthy sleep-wake cycles.” It's also crucial to try to avoid overstimulation in the evenings by limiting loud ...