Biological Implications of Circadian Disruption

Researchers explain how daily schedules and exposure to light can disrupt our circadian clock and lead to health complications.

Exposure to electric light at night is ubiquitous in modern society. This book describes how our 24-hour circadian clock regulates our physiology and behavior and why light at the “wrong” time of day can impact our health.Life on earth has evolved under a consistent cycle of light and darkness caused by the earth's rotation around its axis. This has led to a 24-hour circadian system in most organisms, ranging all the way from fungi to humans. With the advent of electric light in the 19th century, cycles of light and darkness have drastically changed. Shift workers and others exposed to high levels of light at night are at increased risk of health problems, including metabolic syndrome, depression, sleep disorders, dementia, heart disease, and cancer. This book will describe how the circadian system regulates physiology and behavior and consider the important health repercussions of chronic disruption of the circadian system in our increasingly lit world. The research summarized here will interest students in psychology, biology, neuroscience, immunology, medicine, and ecology.