Abstract
ᅟThe Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) are sometimes used to estimate circadian timing. However, it remains unclear if they can reflect a change in circadian timing after a light treatment. In this study, 31 participants (25–68 years) completed both questionnaires before and after a 13–28 day morning light treatment. The dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), a physiological marker of circadian timing, was also assessed in a subsample of 16 participants. The DLMO phase advanced on average by 47 min (p < 0.001). The MEQ score increased by 1.8 points (p = 0.046). The MSFsc measure derived from the MCTQ advanced by 8.7 min (p = 0.17). The shift towards morningness observed in both questionnaires correlated with the phase advance observed in the DLMO (MEQ r = − 0.46, p = 0.036; MSFsc r = 0.81, p < 0.001). Results suggest that these circadian questionnaires can change in response to a light treatment, indicating they can reflect underlying changes in circadian timing.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT02373189 retrospectively registered 2/26/15; NCT03513848 retrospectively registered 5/2/18.
Highlights
The dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) is the most reliable measure of central circadian timing in humans (Lewy et al 1999; Klerman et al 2002)
As we reviewed previously (Kantermann et al 2015), the MorningnessEveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) includes 19 questions that ask people to consider their “feeling best” rhythms and indicate preferred clock time blocks for sleep and engagement in various hypothetical activities, in addition to assessing morning alertness, morning appetite, evening tiredness and alarm clock dependency
These results indicate that the MEQ and Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) questionnaires can reflect an increase in morningness following a morning light treatment
Summary
The dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) is the most reliable measure of central circadian timing in humans (Lewy et al 1999; Klerman et al 2002). The onset of the secretion of melatonin, which is tightly controlled by the central circadian clock (suprachiasmatic nucleus, SCN) (Moore 1996), typically begins 2–3 h before habitual sleep onset (Burgess and Fogg 2008). There are significant disadvantages in measuring the DLMO: it requires staff to assist in the collection and processing of. Two such questionnaires include the MorningnessEveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) (Horne and Ostberg 1976), and the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) (Roenneberg et al 2003). MEQ scores can range from 16 to 86, with lower scores indicating
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
