Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

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...

Understanding Sleep

Understanding Sleep

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...

Management of Insomnia

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...

Stages of Sleep

Stages of Sleep

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...

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

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,...

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep-Wake Cycles

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:

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Temperature as a circadian timing cue in the visually impaired.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same author

The structure of sleep and how it may be altered by visual impairments.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same author

Metadata recommendations for light logging and dosimetry datasets.

BMC digital health·2024

Same author

Investigating light sensitivity in bipolar disorder (HELIOS-BD).

Wellcome open research·2024

Same author

Author Correction: Effect of 60 days of head down tilt bed rest on amplitude and phase of rhythms in physiology and sleep in men.

NPJ microgravity·2024

Same author

Effect of 60 days of head down tilt bed rest on amplitude and phase of rhythms in physiology and sleep in men.

NPJ microgravity·2024

Same journal

Preface.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same journal

Mindfulness and meditation: Promoting emotional and cognitive health.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same journal

Cognitive stimulation enhancing memory and mental function.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same journal

The science behind non-pharmacological interventions.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same journal

Technology-assisted interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Progress in brain research·2025

Same journal

Ethical consideration in non-pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Progress in brain research·2025

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

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

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

Published on: August 8, 2019

Applications in sleep: How light affects sleep.

Nayantara Santhi¹, Danny M Ball²

¹Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Progress in Brain Research

|August 11, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Artificial light disrupts sleep by affecting the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake homeostat. Understanding light

Keywords:

Blindness Circadian Intrinsically-photosensitive retinal ganglion cells Non-visual photoreception Sleep

More Related Videos

An Experimental Approach to Investigating Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Free-Ranging Animals: Implementation, Results, and Directions for Future Research

An Experimental Approach to Investigating Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Free-Ranging Animals: Implementation, Results, and Directions for Future Research

Published on: February 2, 2022

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

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

Published on: June 19, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 12, 2025

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

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

Published on: August 8, 2019

An Experimental Approach to Investigating Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Free-Ranging Animals: Implementation, Results, and Directions for Future Research

An Experimental Approach to Investigating Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Free-Ranging Animals: Implementation, Results, and Directions for Future Research

Published on: February 2, 2022

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

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

Published on: June 19, 2019

Area of Science:

Sleep science
Chronobiology
Neuroscience

Background:

Sleep is vital for physical and mental health, regulated by circadian and homeostatic processes.
Sleep propensity increases with wakefulness duration.
Circadian signals, melatonin, and core body temperature influence sleep onset.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the impact of artificial light on sleep.
To discuss the role of circadian photoreception in sleep regulation.
To examine these effects in the blind population.

Main Methods:

Review of the interplay between circadian and homeostatic sleep drives.
Analysis of the non-visual effects of light on the human photoreceptive system.
Discussion of circadian photoreception mechanisms.

Main Results:

Light, particularly artificial light after dusk, disrupts sleep patterns.
The photoreceptive system, including intrinsically-photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), mediates light's non-visual effects.
Circadian photoreception significantly influences sleep-wake cycles.

Conclusions:

Artificial light exposure can negatively impact sleep quality.
Engineering artificial light sources could mitigate sleep disruption.
Understanding light's effect on circadian photoreception is crucial, especially for the blind population.