Blue light and its effects on sleep

Abstract

Abstract Short wavelenght light (blue light) contributes to dysregulations of the circadian cycles. In an era where most of the light sources were replaced by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), a new problem regarding sleep quality and nictemeral cycle appears. Even though blue light is currently being used a treatment for sleep dysregulations and insomnia (through cycle altering), this stimuli activates the melanopsin secretory mechanism via photoreceptor cells and thus supresses the pineal secretion of melatonin. Melatonin plays a crucial role in provoking pre-sleep symptoms, inducing and maintaining sleep, improving sleep quality and multiple other effects dependant to the organ, such as being an antioxidant or its protective atribute against diabetes. This paper is a general review of the literature and brings to a single place multiple studies about the importance of sleep, physiology of melatonin secretion and the effect of light exposure on those aforementioned.