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Light Environment

Meaning

The light environment refers to the quality, intensity, and precise timing of light exposure that an individual receives throughout the 24-hour day, which profoundly influences the human endocrine system and the master circadian rhythm. This external factor serves as the most powerful zeitgeber, or time-giver, for the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain, thereby regulating the cyclical release of hormones. Clinical management of the light environment is critical for optimizing sleep quality, metabolic health, and hormonal balance.