The impact of the photic environment on human well-being extends far beyond mere illumination. In addition to providing vision, lights are the dominant regulator of the circadian timing system. The circadian rhythms are an internal timing system, and recent studies have established that the circadian clocks have a broader impact beyond just controlling sleep/wake cycles and sleep quality. They are tightly linked to mood, mental health, cardiometabolic regulations, and immune networks. Considering the significant interactions between circadian clocks and physiological health, it is not surprising that circadian disturbances have been observed at both behavioral and molecular clock levels in a broad range of diseases. These disturbances are not merely coincidental associations with diseases; rather, both animal studies and clinical research implicate that circadian disruptions can render individuals more susceptible to disease development, accelerating disease progression, or exacerbating symptoms after disease onset.

From an evolutionary perspective, daily changes in lighting provide a predictable photic environment. However, in modern society, the widespread use of artificial lights and lifestyle changes have posed challenges to the innate design of our circadian system. Inappropriate photic environments (e.g. lights at night) are associated with reduced sleep qualities, disrupted immune regulations, and increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Despite these concerning associations, the awareness of reducing photic disruptions in patients remains relatively new in the practice of disease management. For example, contemporary lighting strategies in the living environment and healthcare facilities are primarily designed for the human visual system; yet, the underlying circadian disruptions are commonly overlooked.

This research topic aims to address the idea that patients can experience well-being and enhanced treatment efficacy through optimized treatments and healing environments that consider circadian hygiene:

• Studies unraveling mechanisms underlying impacts of the photic environment on disease development risks and progressions are encouraged to be submitted.

• Clinical studies or case reports that address whether maintaining a robust photic environment in ICUs can benefit patients in life-threatening conditions are welcomed.

• We also invite submissions of interventions (e.g. tailoring the spectral content of the photic environment, appropriately timed exogenous melatonin) counteracting poor circadian hygiene.

• Reviews with insights on standardization of terminology and measures of photic environment in new study designs, and research topics mentioned above, are invited.

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Frontiers in Neuroscience

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