Green light for circadian rhythms

Previous research has shown that whilst rods and cones are responsible for vision, other non-image-forming cells containing melanopsin are receptive to blue light and regulate light-dependent processes like circadian rhythms.

 

There's a lot of blue light in natural daylight so it makes sense that blue light supresses melatonin, the sleep hormone. In a study that compared blue and green light, researchers were surprised to find that green light had similar effects although they were not as long-lasting.

 

Lead researcher Stephen Lockley said "Our results suggest that we have to consider not only blue light when predicting the effects of light on our circadian rhythms, hormones and alertness but also other visible wavelengths such as green light."

 

Does this mean we'll see a rush of 'green light' products?

 

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