Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork

Abstract Long-term exposure to nonstandard work schedules can result in circadian misalignment, which has been linked to a series of maladies. To test whether modulating light patterns reduces shiftwork-induced rest/activity disruptions, 30 male C57BL/6 J mice individually housed in cages outfitted...

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Main Authors: Varun Mandi, Haley Miller, Jeongkyung Lee, Young-Hwa Goo, Mousumi Moulik, Ke Ma, Antoni Paul, Vijay K. Yechoor, Mariana G. Figueiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Biological Timing and Sleep
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44323-025-00043-3
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author Varun Mandi
Haley Miller
Jeongkyung Lee
Young-Hwa Goo
Mousumi Moulik
Ke Ma
Antoni Paul
Vijay K. Yechoor
Mariana G. Figueiro
author_facet Varun Mandi
Haley Miller
Jeongkyung Lee
Young-Hwa Goo
Mousumi Moulik
Ke Ma
Antoni Paul
Vijay K. Yechoor
Mariana G. Figueiro
author_sort Varun Mandi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Long-term exposure to nonstandard work schedules can result in circadian misalignment, which has been linked to a series of maladies. To test whether modulating light patterns reduces shiftwork-induced rest/activity disruptions, 30 male C57BL/6 J mice individually housed in cages outfitted with running wheels were exposed to 6 simulated shiftwork light interventions. Mice experiencing high light levels during shiftwork exhibited a significant decrease in activity compared to low light levels during shiftwork and a conventional 12 L:12D condition, indicating circadian misalignment. In contrast, mice experiencing shiftwork in darkness combined with either modulated evening light pulses or circadian blind, vision-permissive light showed similar levels of rest/activity compared to a 12 L:12D condition, with phasor analysis indicating that their 24-h circadian rest/activity patterns were not misaligned. The results show that exposure to light that permits visibility but is below activation of the circadian system during shiftwork can prevent circadian misalignment.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2948-281X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Biological Timing and Sleep
spelling doaj-art-80472bd820d74b3ea87dab685cf804842025-08-20T04:01:36ZengNature Portfolionpj Biological Timing and Sleep2948-281X2025-07-01211910.1038/s44323-025-00043-3Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftworkVarun Mandi0Haley Miller1Jeongkyung Lee2Young-Hwa Goo3Mousumi Moulik4Ke Ma5Antoni Paul6Vijay K. Yechoor7Mariana G. Figueiro8Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diabetes and Beta Cell Biology Center, Department of Medicine, University of PittsburghLight and Health Research Center, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diabetes and Beta Cell Biology Center, Department of Medicine, University of PittsburghDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical CollegeDivision of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of PittsburghDepartment of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Beckman Research Institute of City of HopeDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical CollegeDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diabetes and Beta Cell Biology Center, Department of Medicine, University of PittsburghLight and Health Research Center, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiAbstract Long-term exposure to nonstandard work schedules can result in circadian misalignment, which has been linked to a series of maladies. To test whether modulating light patterns reduces shiftwork-induced rest/activity disruptions, 30 male C57BL/6 J mice individually housed in cages outfitted with running wheels were exposed to 6 simulated shiftwork light interventions. Mice experiencing high light levels during shiftwork exhibited a significant decrease in activity compared to low light levels during shiftwork and a conventional 12 L:12D condition, indicating circadian misalignment. In contrast, mice experiencing shiftwork in darkness combined with either modulated evening light pulses or circadian blind, vision-permissive light showed similar levels of rest/activity compared to a 12 L:12D condition, with phasor analysis indicating that their 24-h circadian rest/activity patterns were not misaligned. The results show that exposure to light that permits visibility but is below activation of the circadian system during shiftwork can prevent circadian misalignment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44323-025-00043-3
spellingShingle Varun Mandi
Haley Miller
Jeongkyung Lee
Young-Hwa Goo
Mousumi Moulik
Ke Ma
Antoni Paul
Vijay K. Yechoor
Mariana G. Figueiro
Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork
npj Biological Timing and Sleep
title Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork
title_full Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork
title_fullStr Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork
title_full_unstemmed Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork
title_short Modulating light level patterns reduces rest/activity disruption associated with shiftwork
title_sort modulating light level patterns reduces rest activity disruption associated with shiftwork
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44323-025-00043-3
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