Review article
The Impact of Artificial Light on Mental Health: Circadian Rhythms, Sleep and Emotional Stability
Damir Mulc
Abstract
We are witnessing profound changes that technological progress is bringing to the human lifestyle, however, awareness of its effects on health is developing more slowly. Among the most pervasive impacts of technology, the effect of artificial light stands out, and estimates that more than 80% of the global population is exposed to light at night represent not only a new everyday reality but also a significant public health challenge. The primary proposed mechanism by which light affects the organism involves intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which regulate melatonin secretion and overall synchronization of biological rhythms via the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Nighttime light exposure (particularly “blue spectrum”) leads to suppression of melatonin secretion and a phase shift of the circadian system, thereby causing desynchronization of central and peripheral intrinsic biological rhythms. The consequences of such misalignment are associated with sleep disturbances, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, as well as an increased risk of certain cancers. Sleep disturbances and circadian disruption are also described as both risk and precipitating factors in the development of psychiatric disorders, particularly those within the affective spectrum. It is important to emphasize that methodological limitations of existing research make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, although findings consistently indicate a significant impact of artificial light on neuroendocrine and behavioral functions. For this reason, circadian medicine highlights the importance of optimizing light exposure, primarily by increasing daytime light and reducing evening light, as a key strategy for preserving health in the modern environment.
Keywords
circadian rhythm disorder, artificial light at night, circadian medicine
Hrčak ID:
349494
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2026.
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