Campbell S S, Murphy P J
Laboratory of Human Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.
Science. 1998 Jan 16;279(5349):396-9. doi: 10.1126/science.279.5349.396.
Physiological and behavioral rhythms are governed by an endogenous circadian clock. The response of the human circadian clock to extraocular light exposure was monitored by measurement of body temperature and melatonin concentrations throughout the circadian cycle before and after light pulses presented to the popliteal region (behind the knee). A systematic relation was found between the timing of the light pulse and the magnitude and direction of phase shifts, resulting in the generation of a phase response curve. These findings challenge the belief that mammals are incapable of extraretinal circadian phototransduction and have implications for the development of more effective treatments for sleep and circadian rhythm disorders.
生理和行为节律受内源性昼夜节律时钟的调控。通过在向腘窝区域（膝盖后方）施加光脉冲前后的整个昼夜周期内测量体温和褪黑素浓度，监测了人体昼夜节律时钟对眼外光暴露的反应。发现光脉冲的时间与相移的幅度和方向之间存在系统关系，从而产生了相位响应曲线。这些发现挑战了哺乳动物无法进行视网膜外昼夜光转导的观点，并对开发更有效的睡眠和昼夜节律紊乱治疗方法具有启示意义。
