Suppression of Melatonin Secretion in Some Blind Patients by Exposure to Bright Light
- 5 January 1995
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 332 (1), 6-11
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199501053320102
Abstract
Complete blindness generally results in the loss of synchronization of circadian rhythms to the 24-hour day and in recurrent insomnia. However, some blind patients maintain circadian entrainment. We undertook this study to determine whether some blind patients' eyes convey sufficient photic information to entrain the hypothalamic circadian pacemaker and suppress melatonin secretion, despite an apparently complete loss of visual function.Keywords
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