Stewart Dean, Albrecht Urs
Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
NPJ Biol Timing Sleep. 2025;2(1):12. doi: 10.1038/s44323-025-00029-1. Epub 2025 Mar 13.
Light is a crucial environmental factor that influences various aspects of life, including physiological and psychological processes. While light is well-known for its role in enabling humans and other animals to perceive their surroundings, its influence extends beyond vision. Importantly, light affects our internal time-keeping system, the circadian clock, which regulates daily rhythms of biochemical and physiological processes, ultimately impacting mood and behaviour. The 24-h availability of light can have profound effects on our well-being, both physically and mentally, as seen in cases of jet lag and shift work. This review summarizes the intricate relationships between light, the circadian clock, and mood-related behaviours, exploring the underlying mechanisms and its implications for health.
光作为一种关键的环境因素，影响着生命的各个方面，包括生理和心理过程。尽管光在使人类和其他动物感知周围环境方面的作用广为人知，但其影响却不止于视觉。重要的是，光会影响我们的内部计时系统——生物钟，该生物钟调节着生化和生理过程的日常节律，最终影响情绪和行为。正如在时差反应和轮班工作的案例中所见，24小时的光照条件对我们的身心健康会产生深远影响。本综述总结了光、生物钟和情绪相关行为之间的复杂关系，探讨了其潜在机制及其对健康的影响。
