Light and Circadian Rhythm
How can light affect our circadian rhythms?
Just like food and water, light is a nutrient for the human body. For humans, light reaching the back of our eyes is the primary external cue that synchronizes the body’s internal biological clock and thus our circadian rhythms to the solar day, essentially telling our bodies to do the right thing at the right time.
Natural light characteristics
- Dark-light cycle
- Color Temperature
- Light intensity
The dark-light cycle is a 24-hours cycle with a light period during the day and a dark period during the night. Since humans have lived outdoor for thousands of years, our bodies have evolved in response to the changing rhythms of natural light, which affects most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes.
Natural light effects on circadian rhythms
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle.
Light is one of the main drivers of this internal clock, which starts in the brain and regulates physiological rhythms throughout the body’s tissues and organs. This affects also hormone levels and the sleep-wake cycle.
Light is one of the main drivers of this internal clock, which starts in the brain and regulates physiological rhythms throughout the body’s tissues and organs. This affects also hormone levels and the sleep-wake cycle.
Artificial light characteristics
- Dark-light cycle
- Color Temperature
- Light intensity
Due to our modern lifestyle, we spend most of our time indoors, under artificial light. Compared with natural light, artifical light is not dynamic and the lack of dark-light cycles will alter our internal clock and circadian rhythms.
90
Time indoor
Artificial light effects on circadian rhythms
With artificial and fixed lighting, light intensity, the light spectrum, and dark-light cycles are altered. We are exposed to less light during the day and too much light during the night, compared to natural light.
These non-natural light cycles cause deregulation of the natural circadian rhythm. The consequences are some of the problems people are struggling with nowadays: sleep disorders, apathy, and even depression.
These non-natural light cycles cause deregulation of the natural circadian rhythm. The consequences are some of the problems people are struggling with nowadays: sleep disorders, apathy, and even depression.
40
Of people suffer of
sleep disorder
sleep disorder
70
Of people suffer of
depression
depression
How to promote well-being through artificial light?
KUMUX solution gets the benefits of natural light to improve health and
well-being with an advanced Human-Centric Lighting.
Discover more about KUMUX Lighting.
well-being with an advanced Human-Centric Lighting.
Discover more about KUMUX Lighting.