Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

3.0K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
3.0K
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

449
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
449
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

1.7K
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
1.7K
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

939
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
939
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.4K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.4K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.6K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Risks Associated With Benzodiazepine Long-Term Use in Chronic Insomnia: A Systematic Review and (Network) Meta-Analysis.

Journal of sleep research·2026
Same author

Melatonin: Some Aspects of Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pharmacology.

Advances and technical standards in neurosurgery·2026
Same author

A Functional <i>HMOX2</i> Genetic Variant Is Associated with Resting Diastolic and Mean Arterial Pressure in Healthy Humans.

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

The hidden burden of narcolepsy type 1: Discordance in psychobehavioral symptoms between patient self-reports and reports from close family members and friends.

Sleep medicine·2026
Same author

Successful closed-loop neurofeedback alpha frequency modulation enhances the temporal dynamics of attention.

NeuroImage·2026
Same author

Sex-specific associations of anxiety, insomnia, and their comorbidity with incident obesity in a general-population cohort.

European journal of public health·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.5K

[Treating circadian sleep-wake disorders by light].

Damien Leger1, François Duforez2, Claude Gronfier3

  • 1AP-HP, HUPC, Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, université Paris Descartes, Centre du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, EA 7330 VIFASOM, 1, place du Parvis Jean-Paul-II, 75004 Paris, France.

Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|November 11, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phototherapy effectively treats circadian sleep-wake disorders by utilizing specific light characteristics. Consult an ophthalmologist if you have retinal conditions before starting treatment.

More Related Videos

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

12.8K
Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila
18:08

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Published on: September 28, 2010

48.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
08:58

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

10.5K
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

12.8K
Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila
18:08

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Published on: September 28, 2010

48.3K

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders are common and impact quality of life.
  • Phototherapy is a well-established treatment with significant scientific backing.
  • Light exposure is a key regulator of the human biological clock.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy and application of phototherapy for various circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders.
  • To outline the critical parameters influencing phototherapy effectiveness.
  • To identify contraindications for phototherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific and clinical evidence on phototherapy for sleep disorders.
  • Analysis of key light characteristics: intensity, duration, timing, and wavelength.
  • Identification of specific circadian disorders for which phototherapy is indicated.

Main Results:

  • Phototherapy is effective for advanced sleep-wake phase disorder (ASWPD), delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD), non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder (N24SWD), jet lag, and night-shift work sleep-wake disorders (NSSWD).
  • Optimal treatment outcomes depend on precise control of light intensity, exposure duration, timing, and wavelength.
  • Patients with retinal disorders should exercise caution and consult an ophthalmologist due to the retinal pathway of phototherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Phototherapy is a viable and evidence-based treatment for a range of circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders.
  • Careful consideration of light parameters and individual patient health, particularly retinal status, is crucial for safe and effective phototherapy.
  • Further research may refine optimal phototherapy protocols for specific conditions.