"David Lubkin" <lubkin@unreasonable.com> writes:
> Melatonin production is triggered by low light levels, and turned
> off when sunlight hits your retina in the morning (which seems
> pretty cool to me). So it's reasonable to expect that people will
> screw up their sleep cycles due to artificial lighting.
It also shows why it is a good idea to sleep in a dark room, and suggests that a good way of getting awake is to have a timer set to brighten it (I use a 150W halogen lamp above my bed in the winters).
> It's also a great jet-lag treatment. One large dose your first night
> and you're over it. Also reported to improve mental performance and
> longevity, and reduce depression and seasonal affective disorder.
The use for jet-lag works (scientifically well studied and I have personally tried it). The mental performance and longevity stuff is unproven and rather controversial. The depression aspect is interesting, but likely mediated through sleeping - SAD and some forms of depression are influenced by when and how much you sleep.
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