Question

A manufacturing company installs bright lights in a plant in which many employees work the 11 P.M. to 7 A.M. shift. The lights simulate morning sun, helping the suprachiasmatic nucleus to reduce the _______ gland's production of the sleep-inducing hormone ______.

Answer 1

The light helps the suprachiasmatic nucleus to reduce the pineal gland's production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pineal gland is part of the endocrine system, meaning it produces and secretes the a hormone known as melatonin. It is regulated by the amount of light an individual is exposed to.

Melatonin has a role in sleep and the regulation of one's circadian rhythms, meaning it is stimulated by darkness which is when the individual is most likely to sleep.

In this case, the employees are exposed to the light which simulates the sun, meaning the pineal gland will be inhibited and won't be able to produce melatonin, thus making the employees stay awake between 11 P.M. and 7 A.M.