TY - JOUR
KW - circadian rhythms
KW - Health
KW - light therapy
KW - performance
AU - Julio Lillo Jover
AU - Leticia Álvaro Llorente
AU - Humberto Moreira Villegas
AU - M. del Carmen Durán Pulido
AB - A general view on circadian system structure and performance is provided for a better understanding of the problems derived from its malfunction and the ways to compensate for the negative effects using light therapy. The relevance of exposure to light-darkness cycles, in order to synchronize the circadian system, is highlighted and the reasons behind night-shift workers  ill health are explained. Differences between circadian and visual stimulation are given which relates to the reasons why standard photometry does not provide accurate measurements for the optimum stimulation of the circadian system. Finally, the philosophy of light therapy and its efficacy in avoiding/eliminating problems associated with inaccurate circadian system functioning in reference to (1) its transitory activation, (2) biological and chronological clocks mismatches and (3) seasonal depression, are described.
IS - 2-3
M3 - Journal article
N2 - A general view on circadian system structure and performance is provided for a better understanding of the problems derived from its malfunction and the ways to compensate for the negative effects using light therapy. The relevance of exposure to light-darkness cycles, in order to synchronize the circadian system, is highlighted and the reasons behind night-shift workers  ill health are explained. Differences between circadian and visual stimulation are given which relates to the reasons why standard photometry does not provide accurate measurements for the optimum stimulation of the circadian system. Finally, the philosophy of light therapy and its efficacy in avoiding/eliminating problems associated with inaccurate circadian system functioning in reference to (1) its transitory activation, (2) biological and chronological clocks mismatches and (3) seasonal depression, are described.
PB - Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Ansiedad y el Estrés
PY - 2010
SN - 2174-0437/1134-7937
SP - 259
EP - 269
T2 - Ansiedad y Estrés
TI - Circadian rhythms and light: Effects on health and performance
VL - 16
ER -