Circadian photoentrainment varies by season and depressed state: associations between light sensitivity and sleep and circadian timing (2024)

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Volume 47 Issue 6 June 2024

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Delainey L Wescott

Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

USA

Corresponding author. Delainey L. Wescott, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Email: dlw92@pitt.edu.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6884-3846

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Brant P Hasler

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Pittsburgh, PA

USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3123-1106

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Peter L Franzen

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Pittsburgh, PA

USA

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Maddison L Taylor

Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

USA

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Alison M Klevens

Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

USA

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-6015

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Paul Gamlin

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL

USA

Abstract

Study Objectives

Altered light sensitivity may be an underlying vulnerability for disrupted circadian photoentrainment. The photic information necessary for circadian photoentrainment is sent to the circadian clock from melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). The current study tested whether the responsivity of ipRGCs measured using the post-illumination pupil response (PIPR) was associated with circadian phase, sleep timing, and circadian alignment, and if these relationships varied by season or depression severity.

Methods

Adult participants (N = 323, age_m = 40.5, age_sd = 13.5) with varying depression severity were recruited during the summer (n = 154) and winter (n = 169) months. Light sensitivity was measured using the PIPR. Circadian phase was assessed using Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) on Friday evenings. Midsleep was measured using actigraphy. Circadian alignment was calculated as the DLMO-midsleep phase angle. Multilevel regression models covaried for age, gender, and time since wake of PIPR assessment.

Results

Greater light sensitivity was associated with later circadian phase in summer but not in winter (β = 0.23; p = 0.03). Greater light sensitivity was associated with shorter DLMO-midsleep phase angles (β = 0.20; p = 0.03) in minimal depression but not in moderate depression (SIGHSAD < 6.6; Johnson-Neyman region of significance).

Conclusions

Light sensitivity measured by the PIPR was associated with circadian phase during the summer but not in winter, suggesting ipRGC functioning in humans may affect circadian entrainment when external zeitgebers are robust. Light sensitivity was associated with circadian alignment only in participants with minimal depression, suggesting circadian photoentrainment, a possible driver of mood, may be decreased in depression year-round, similar to decreased photoentrainment in winter.

Graphical Abstract

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circadian photoentrainment, sleep, circadian rhythms, light sensitivity

© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.

This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)

Topic:

depressive disorders
photophobia
sleep
light exposure

Issue Section:

Circadian Rhythms and Circadian Disorders

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