| 摘要: |
| 光的非视觉效应影响人体身心健
康，关乎建筑健康光环境设计需求。然而在
光环境非视觉效应研究上，当下缺乏系统性
的研究框架和指导。通过梳理非视觉效应科
学研究进展，挖掘其对人体生理和心理的影
响类型，指出在警觉性、睡眠质量、情绪等
方面的潜在作用。总结建筑光环境中对人体
非视觉效应具有影响的不同要素，指出这些
要素对于人体生理和心理内在影响的规律。
总结光环境非视觉效应影响评价模型，对比
分析不同评价模型的阈值和应用效果。本文
旨在科普光环境非视觉效应知识，提供光环
境非视觉非视觉效应上的研究方向，知悉光
环境非视觉效应研究趋势。 |
| 关键词: 光的非视觉效应 建筑光环境 视
觉健康 健康采光照明 |
| DOI：10.13791/j.cnki.hsfwest.20250512002 |
| 分类号: |
| 基金项目:国家自然科学基金项目（52408014） |
|
| Exploration of the influence and evaluation model of the non-visual effects of the lightenvironment in architectural space |
|
LUO Zhaoyang,,SUN Cheng
|
| Abstract: |
| The non-visual effects of light, distinct from its role in supporting visual perception, exert
profound and multifaceted influences on human physical and mental health, a connection that has
become increasingly central to the design needs of healthy building light environments. In the context
of rapid urbanization and modern lifestyles, humans now spend over 90% of their time indoors, where
artificial lighting has replaced natural sunlight as the primary source of daily light exposure. This shift
has disrupted the ancient synchronization between human circadian rhythms and the natural light-dark
cycle, highlighting the urgency of addressing non-visual light effects in built environments. However,
despite growing attention from architecture, neuroscience, and public health fields, in-depth
exploration of the underlying mechanisms of these effects and the construction of systematic
theoretical frameworks remain insufficient. Existing research often focuses on isolated aspects (e.g.,
single light parameters or specific health outcomes) rather than integrating physiological,
psychological, and environmental factors, leaving critical gaps in guiding evidence-based lighting
design.By systematically sorting out the scientific research progress of light’ s non-visual effects over
the past three decades, from early discoveries of melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive
retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in the 2000s to recent longitudinal studies on long-term light
exposure, this paper comprehensively explores the types of effects on human physiology and
psychology. Physiologically, non-visual light effects primarily regulate the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal
(HPA) axis and the pineal gland’s melatonin secretion: for instance, short-wavelength blue
light (460-480 nm) can suppress melatonin production by up to 50% under moderate illuminance (300
lux), thereby delaying the circadian phase and disrupting sleep-wake cycles. Chronically disrupted
circadian rhythms have been linked to a higher risk of metabolic disorders (e. g., obesity, type 2
diabetes), cardiovascular diseases, and even certain cancers. Psychologically, the paper highlights
potential effects on alertness, sleep quality, and emotional states: morning exposure to highilluminance
(≥1 000 lux) white light has been shown to improve subjective alertness by 20%~30%
and reduce daytime sleepiness in office workers, while prolonged exposure to low-illuminance, warmspectrum
light in the evening may increase symptoms of anxiety and depression by altering serotonin
levels in the brain.Furthermore, the paper summarizes the key elements in building light environments
that modulate these non-visual effects, including illuminance level, spectral composition, exposure
duration, and timing of exposure, and clarifies the laws governing how these elements shape internal
physiological and psychological responses. Illuminance, for example, exhibits a dose-response
relationship with non-visual effects: below 50 lux, non-visual impacts are negligible, but effects
intensify as illuminance increases (peaking at 1 000-2 000 lux for alertness regulation). Spectral
composition is equally critical: blue light (400-500 nm) is the most potent trigger for non-visual
responses due to its high absorption by ipRGCs, whereas red light (600-700 nm) has minimal effects
on circadian rhythms and melatonin. Exposure timing also plays a decisive role: light exposure in the
morning advances the circadian clock (promoting early sleep-wake cycles), while evening light delays
it, explaining why excessive screen time (rich in blue light) before bed is a major contributor toinsomnia in modern populations.The paper also provides a comprehensive overview of evaluation models for light environment non-visual effects, including
the Circadian Stimulus (CS) model, the melanopic Equivalent Daylight Illuminance (mEDI) model, and the Mean Euclidean Weighted Stimulus (MEWS)
model, and conducts a comparative analysis of their thresholds and application effects. The CS model, developed by the Lighting Research Center (LRC),
quantifies light’s ability to regulate circadian rhythms with a threshold of 0.3 (indicating sufficient circadian stimulation for healthy adults); however, it fails to
account for individual differences in age (e.g., elderly individuals require 30-50% higher illuminance to achieve the same CS value) or retinal health. The mEDI
model, by contrast, normalizes non-visual effects to equivalent daylight levels, making it more intuitive for architects but less accurate for artificial lights with
atypical spectra (e.g., warm white LEDs). The MEWS model addresses some of these limitations by integrating both circadian and alertness responses, but its
complexity limits its practical application in routine design. Common challenges across models include the lack of data on long-term effects (e.g., 5+ years of
exposure) and insufficient consideration of vulnerable populations (e.g., shift workers, individuals with circadian rhythm disorders).The primary purpose of this
paper is to fill these theoretical and practical gaps by providing a scientific basis for health-oriented building lighting design strategies. For example, in
residential settings, the paper recommends dynamic lighting systems that adjust spectral composition (reducing blue light after 8 PM) and
illuminance (gradually dimming in the evening) to align with human circadian rhythms. In office environments, it suggests morning high-illuminance (1 500
lux) light exposure to enhance productivity and afternoon moderate-illuminance (500 lux) to avoid over-stimulation. In healthcare facilities, it proposes tailored
lighting for patients with sleep disorders (e.g., bright morning light therapy for insomnia) and for night-shift nurses (e.g., low-blue light during night shifts to
preserve circadian health). By translating scientific findings into actionable design guidelines, this research aims to realize healthy human settlement light
environments, reducing the burden of light-related chronic diseases and improving public health outcomes. Ultimately, this work responds to the strategic needs
of “Healthy China” by integrating environmental design with public health, contributing to the construction of a society where built environments actively
support, rather than compromise and human health. |
| Key words: non-visual effects of light architectural light environment visual health healthy lighting |
