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Nonvisual Lighting Effects and Their Impact on Health and Well-Being

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Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology

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Synonyms

Circadian rhythms; Circadian system

Definition

Biological, nonvisual effects of lighting constitute a growing field within lighting research and education. In addition to visual effects, light is known to affect other biological rhythms, most notably the circadian system, which generates and regulates a number of rhythms that run with a period close to 24 h. Light/dark patterns incident on the retina are the major synchronizer of circadian rhythms to the 24-h solar day. Lighting characteristics (quantity, spectrum, timing, duration, and distribution) affecting the visual and circadian systems differ. Symptoms of circadian sleep disorders, such as seasonal affective disorder, jet lag, and delayed sleep phase disorder, can be mitigated by timed light exposure.

Introduction

The neurophysiology and neuroanatomy of the human visual system are largely understood: vision is the result of complex interactions between light sources, objects and surfaces, the eye, and the brain....

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge the projects’ sponsors (National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Cancer Institute, and Office of Naval Research). Mark Rea, PhD, of the Lighting Research Center is acknowledged for his technical assistance, and David Pedler of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is acknowledged for his editorial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lighting Research Center, Troy, NY, USA

    Mariana Figueiro

Authors
  1. Mariana Figueiro
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Correspondence to Mariana Figueiro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Color Science & Imaging Lab, North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Renzo Shamey

Section Editor information

  1. van Bommel Lighting Consultant, Nuenen, Netherlands

    Wout van Bommel

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Figueiro, M. (2020). Nonvisual Lighting Effects and Their Impact on Health and Well-Being. In: Shamey, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_118-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_118-5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27851-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27851-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Nonvisual Lighting Effects and Their Impact on Health and Well-Being
    Published:
    12 November 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_118-5

  2. Original

    Non-Visual Lighting Effects and Their Impact on Health and Well-Being
    Published:
    06 October 2014

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_118-4

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