A hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland, it is important in the regulation of the circadian rhythms of several biological functions.
A hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain during the early stages of sleep. A synthetic form of it is used to reduce the effects of jet lag or to adjust sleep patterns when working rotating shifts.
Melatonin is the brain’s main hormone involved in the sleep/wakefulness cycle. Increased levels induce sleep.
A hormone produced by the pineal gland during the hours of darkness, which makes animals sleep during the winter months. It is thought to control the body’s rhythms.
Hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness. Its production and release is suppressed by light. The function of melatonin in humans is unclear. It may have a role in human sleep-wake cycles.
Only hormone secreted by the pineal gland; its function in humans is unknown.
Hormone that is formed by the pineal gland and involved in circadian rhythms and bioregulation.
A hormone responsible for regulating the body’s biological clock. Melatonin is produced in larger quantities at night than in the day by the pineal gland at the base of the brain. Because people produce less melatonin as they age, this relative deficiency may contribute to the sleep problems that many older people experience. Melatonin supplements may help people sleep better.
A hormone that plays a key role in the body’s diurnal (night and day) rhythms. Produced by the pineal gland and derived from serotonin, it acts on receptors in an area of the brain above the optic chiasma, synchronising them to the diurnal rhythm. Melatonin is under investigation as a possible agent to treat insomnia in the elderly, in shift workers and in those with severe learning disability (mental handicap). It may also help people with seasonal affective disorder syndrome and those who suffer from jet lag.
A peptide hormone produced by the pineal gland that influences sleep-wake cycles and other circadian rhythms. It is available in supplement form. It has a sedative effect and has been used to treat sleep disorders and jet lag, even though its impact on these conditions remains unclear.
A hormone released by the pineal gland that lowers one’s body temperature and causes drowsiness.
A secretion emitted by the pineal gland in the anatomy, which plays a role in managing the cyclic pattern of the body’s arousal and rest. This hormonal agent, commonly known as X, aids in the synchronization of physiological activities with environmental factors such as light and darkness, which affects the body’s circadian rhythm.
Melatonin, a hormone released by the pineal gland in the brain, is believed to contribute to the management of daily bodily rhythms and the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. As the surrounding light diminishes, melatonin levels increase, priming the body for sleep. While some individuals think that melatonin supplements might alleviate the impacts of jet lag, there is no definitive evidence supporting this notion.