Prepare for the Certification in Clinical Sleep Health exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Melatonin secretion tends to be highest during which period?

Melatonin release from the pineal gland is gated by light; it rises when light diminishes and is suppressed by light. In darkness, signals from the retina to the brain’s circadian clock allow melatonin production to increase, reaching its peak during the night when darkness is greatest. Bright daylight, especially morning light, sharply reduces or eliminates melatonin levels, so they are low at dawn and noon. Thus, melatonin secretion tends to be highest during darkness.

Melatonin release from the pineal gland is gated by light; it rises when light diminishes and is suppressed by light. In darkness, signals from the retina to the brain’s circadian clock allow melatonin production to increase, reaching its peak during the night when darkness is greatest. Bright daylight, especially morning light, sharply reduces or eliminates melatonin levels, so they are low at dawn and noon. Thus, melatonin secretion tends to be highest during darkness.