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Binocular facilitation in light‐mediated melatonin suppression?
Author(s) -
Spitschan Manuel,
Cajochen Christian
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/jpi.12602
Subject(s) - melanopsin , melatonin , intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells , extant taxon , facilitation , retinal , retina , light sensitivity , circadian rhythm , photic stimulation , biology , endocrinology , neuroscience , stimulation , medicine , photopigment , retinal ganglion cell , optics , physics , visual perception , evolutionary biology , biochemistry , perception
Abstract In humans, the production of melatonin is suppressed by light exposure. This effect is mediated by a retinal pathway involving the melanopsin‐containing intrinsincally photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which exhibit maximum sensitivity to short‐wavelength light. Here, based on extant and published data, we examine how signals from the two eyes are integrated in driving the suppression of melatonin by light. We find that melatonin suppression by light exposure to two eyes corresponds to a sensitivity shift by about 1.2 log units (factor ~17.4).