Beyond Lux: methods for species and photoreceptor-specific quantification of ambient light for mammals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Light is a key environmental regulator of physiology and behaviour. Mistimed or insufficient light disrupts circadian rhythms and is associated with impaired health and well-being across mammals. Appropriate lighting is therefore crucial for indoor housed mammals. Light is commonly measured in lux. However, this employs a spectral weighting function for human luminance and is not suitable for 'non-visual' effects of light or use across species. In humans, a photoreceptor-specific (α-opic) metrology system has been proposed as a more appropriate way of measuring light.

Results

Here we establish technology to allow this α-opic measurement approach to be readily extended across mammalian species, accounting for differences in photoreceptor types, photopigment spectra

SUBMITTER: McDowell RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11562817 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature