Division of Sleep Medicine @ Harvard Medical School
Trainee Profile
Melanie Rüger, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Research Fellow, Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Inter-office Mail Address
BWH Division of Sleep Medicine, BLI 486Email mrueger@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Society Memberships
German Society for Psychology (DGPs)Dutch Society for Sleep-Wake-Research (NSWO)
Research Unit(s)
Circadian Physiology Program, Division of Sleep Medicine
Research Interests
The focus of my research is how light affects physiological and psychological states of humans. Over the past years there has been a growing interest in light as a non-invasive remedy for the negative side effects of increased mobility (i.e. jetlag) and the expanding 24/7 society (i.e. night- and shift work).
Timing, wavelength, intensity, and duration are factors that determine the effect that a light pulse will have on the human circadian system and its outcome measurements like alertness, melatonin concentration, EEG, and core body temperature. But not all outcome measurements change in parallel and not all light induced changes are desirable and beneficial for everyone across all situations. In order to maximize the application and its beneficiary effects, a fundamental understanding and characterization of the properties of light is needed.
As part of this characterization process, I am currently working on how the prior light history of the circadian system will influence the effect magnitude of a following light pulse. Outcome measurements include melatonin, subjective alertness, EEG, and neurobehavioral performance.
Timing, wavelength, intensity, and duration are factors that determine the effect that a light pulse will have on the human circadian system and its outcome measurements like alertness, melatonin concentration, EEG, and core body temperature. But not all outcome measurements change in parallel and not all light induced changes are desirable and beneficial for everyone across all situations. In order to maximize the application and its beneficiary effects, a fundamental understanding and characterization of the properties of light is needed.
As part of this characterization process, I am currently working on how the prior light history of the circadian system will influence the effect magnitude of a following light pulse. Outcome measurements include melatonin, subjective alertness, EEG, and neurobehavioral performance.
Mentor(s)
Selected Publications
Bruehl H, Rüger M, Dziobek I, Sweat V, Tirsi A, Javier E, Arentoft A, Wolf OT, Convit A. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation and memory impairments in type 2 diabetes.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jul;92(7):2439-45. Epub 2007 Apr 10. [PMID: 17426095]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Time-of-day-dependent effects of bright light exposure on human psychophysiology: comparison of daytime and nighttime exposure.
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 May;290(5):R1413-20. Epub 2005 Dec 22. [PMID: 16373441]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Weak relationships between suppression of melatonin and suppression of sleepiness/fatigue in response to light exposure.
J Sleep Res. 2005 Sep;14(3):221-7. [PMID: 16120096]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Nasal versus temporal illumination of the human retina: effects on core body temperature, melatonin, and circadian phase.
J Biol Rhythms. 2005 Feb;20(1):60-70. [PMID: 15654071]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Acute and phase-shifting effects of ocular and extraocular light in human circadian physiology.
J Biol Rhythms. 2003 Oct;18(5):409-19. [PMID: 14582857]
Electronic version of doctoral thesis
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jul;92(7):2439-45. Epub 2007 Apr 10. [PMID: 17426095]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Time-of-day-dependent effects of bright light exposure on human psychophysiology: comparison of daytime and nighttime exposure.
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 May;290(5):R1413-20. Epub 2005 Dec 22. [PMID: 16373441]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Weak relationships between suppression of melatonin and suppression of sleepiness/fatigue in response to light exposure.
J Sleep Res. 2005 Sep;14(3):221-7. [PMID: 16120096]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Nasal versus temporal illumination of the human retina: effects on core body temperature, melatonin, and circadian phase.
J Biol Rhythms. 2005 Feb;20(1):60-70. [PMID: 15654071]
Rüger M, Gordijn MC, Beersma DG, de Vries B, Daan S. Acute and phase-shifting effects of ocular and extraocular light in human circadian physiology.
J Biol Rhythms. 2003 Oct;18(5):409-19. [PMID: 14582857]
Electronic version of doctoral thesis
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