Summary
This paper proposes a unified framework and common language for evaluating the non-visual (circadian/health) spectral effectiveness of light, addressing the inconsistency in how quantities and units are reported across scientific literature. The accompanying SpeKtro dashboard tool enables researchers, lighting designers, and developers to practically apply the framework when specifying or evaluating light sources for human health applications.
Key Findings
- Existing approaches to quantifying non-visual spectral sensitivity were reviewed and categorized by application, revealing a lack of standardization that limits the comparability and utility of published research.
- A unified framework was developed that is flexible enough to model non-visual responses across a wide range of lighting scenarios and adaptable to future biological discoveries.
- An online visualization tool (SpeKtro dashboard at spektro.epfl.ch) was introduced to allow practical exploration and application of the unified framework.
Categories
The Science of Light: Reviews and unifies existing approaches to quantifying non-visual spectral sensitivities (melanopsin/ipRGC-driven responses) and proposes a common framework with standardized quantities and units for reporting.
Sleep & Circadian Health: The framework directly addresses quantification of light's non-visual effects relevant to circadian entrainment, melatonin suppression, and other health-related photobiological responses.
Author(s)
ML Ámundadóttir, SW Lockley
Publication Year
2017
Number of Citations
73
Related Publications
The Science of Light
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- Color appearance models
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice
Sleep & Circadian Health
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- The two‐process model of sleep regulation: a reappraisal
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice
- Strange vision: ganglion cells as circadian photoreceptors