KN-62, an inhibitor of CaM kinase II, attenuated phase shifts induced by low intensity light pulses and reduced light-induced phosphorylation of the transcription factor, CREB, in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The calmodulin inhibitor, W-7, had similar effects: neither drug produced a complete block of photic responses. The results support the hypothesis that circadian responses to light are mediated in part by CaM kinase activity and CREB, and suggest that other signal transduction pathways also take part.