If You’re Happy and You Know it Stay Alert: The Effects of Lighting on Vigilance Performance and Affective State

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 854-858
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Monroe ◽  
Samantha L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Affective State ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Speed Of Information Processing ◽  
Attention Tasks ◽  
High Workload ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
Over Time

Vigilance, or sustained attention tasks involve detecting critical signals, embedded amid more frequent neutral signals, over an extended period of time. A decline in performance, engagement, and arousal over time, as well as high workload and stress, are common outcomes of such tasks. Exposure to broad-spectrum or short wavelength bright light has been found to positively impact alertness, speed of information processing, and mood, but has not been extensively explored in the vigilance domain. The present study explored whether a light therapy lamp could mitigate the negative vigilance outcomes found in both performance and affective state. Results indicated that the therapy light did not prevent a decline in detection of critical signals over time, nor significantly impact workload, sleepiness, or subjective stress state compared to a dim light condition. However, mood questionnaire results suggest that lighting may impact separate constructs of arousal and tiredness, warranting further research.

Double Blind Randomised Clinical Trial of Bright Light Therapy in Elderly Subjects with Nonseaonal Major Depressive Disorder

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
R. Lieverse ◽  
M. Nielen ◽  
B. Uitdehaag ◽  
E. van Someren ◽  
J. Smit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Bright Light Therapy ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Double Blind

Background:The cause of depression is largely unknown, but several studies point to disturbances of biological rhythmicity. The functioning of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is impaired, as evidenced by an increased prevalence of day-night rhythm perturbations, such as sleeping disorders. Moreover, the inhibitory SCN neurons on the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenocortical axis (HPA-axis) have decreased activity and HPA-activity is enhanced, when compared to non-depressed elderly. Using bright light therapy (BLT) the SCN can be stimulated. In addition, the beneficial effects of BLT on seasonal depression are well accepted. BLT is a potentially safe, nonexpensive and well accepted treatment option. But the current literature on BLT for depression is inconclusive.Methods/design:RCT (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00332670) in 89 subjects, of 60 years and older with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. After inclusion subjects were randomly allocated to the active (BLT) vs. placebo (dim red light) condition. just before the start of light therapy, after completion of three weeks therapy period, and three weeks thereafter several endocrinological, psychophysiological, psychometrically, neuropsychological measures are performed:Results:Main effect analyses on HADRS-17 scores revealed significant antidepressant effects from BLT. Primary results will be presented.Discussion:BLT reduces nonseasonal depression in elderly patients. Additional lightning may easily be implemented in the homes of patients to serve as add-on treatment to antidepressants or as a stand-alone treatment in elderly depressed patients. Our data support the role of a dysfunctional biological clock in depressed elderly subjects, such a finding may guide further development of novel chronobiological oriented treatment strategies.

scholarly journals Bright morning light advances the human circadian system without affecting NREM sleep homeostasis

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. R106-R111 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Dijk ◽  
D. G. Beersma ◽  
S. Daan ◽  
A. J. Lewy
Keyword(s):  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Circadian Pacemaker ◽  
Sleep Regulation ◽  
Plasma Melatonin ◽  
Sleep Homeostasis ◽  
Dim Light

Eight male subjects were exposed to either bright light or dim light between 0600 and 0900 h for 3 consecutive days each. Relative to the dim light condition, the bright light treatment advanced the evening rise in plasma melatonin and the time of sleep termination (sleep onset was held constant) for an average approximately 1 h. The magnitude of the advance of the plasma melatonin rise was dependent on its phase in dim light. The reduction in sleep duration was at the expense of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Spectral analysis of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed that the advance of the circadian pacemaker did not affect EEG power densities between 0.25 and 15.0 Hz during either non-REM or REM sleep. The data show that shifting the human circadian pacemaker by 1 h does not affect non-REM sleep homeostasis. These findings are in accordance with the predictions of the two-process model of sleep regulation.

The effects of intermittent light during the evening on sleepiness, sleep electroencephalographic spectral power and performance the next morning

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 1159-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
MQ Yang ◽  
QW Chen ◽  
YY Zhu ◽  
Q Zhou ◽  
YG Geng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Continuous Light ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Beta Activity ◽  
Intermittent Light ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Electroencephalographic Activity

Most studies on the effects of light exposure have been conducted with continuous light. The present study investigated the effects of intermittent light exposure on sleepiness, mood, electroencephalographic activity during sleep and performance the next morning. Fifteen volunteers were scheduled to come to the sleep laboratory to experience different lighting conditions: intermittent bright light, continuous bright light and continuous dim light. Subjective sleepiness and mood were assessed during light exposure, with electroencephalographic recording during sleep. After waking the next morning, participants filled out questionnaires and went through two cognitive tasks. The results revealed significantly lower ratings of sleepiness after intermittent light exposure, which is not different from the ratings in the continuous bright light condition, and an increase in vitality during later part of the evening and more beta activity during the first 90 minutes of sleep in the intermittent light condition, in comparison with the continuous dim light condition. However, both intermittent and continuous bright light exposure showed no difference from the continuous dim light condition in subjects' mood and cognitive functioning the next morning. The data indicated intermittent light during evening decreased sleepiness, had only minimal impact on mood in the evening, increased beta electroencephalographic activity during sleep, but had no significant influence on cognitive functioning the next morning.

Morning bright light therapy: a helpful tool for reducing comorbid symptoms of affective and behavioral dysregulation in juvenile depressed inpatients? A pilot trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Bogen ◽  
Tanja Legenbauer ◽  
Stephanie Gest ◽  
Martin Holtmann
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Bright Light Therapy ◽  
Circadian Phase ◽  
Behavioral Dysregulation ◽  
Sleep Parameters ◽  
Circadian Effect ◽  
Dysregulation Profile

Abstract. Objective: In recent years, bright light therapy (BLT) has been used to treat depression and to stabilize circadian rhythms. In this study we evaluated whether it is also helpful for comorbid symptoms of affective and behavioral dysregulation in depressive inpatients. Method: This article reports a secondary analysis comparing two subgroups of depressive participants with comorbid affective and behavioral dysregulation, captured with the dysregulation-profile of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-DP; n = 16 vs. n = 11). Participants were randomly allocated to active BLT (10,000 lux) or control BLT (approx. 100 lux), and received 45 minutes of BLT for 2 weeks. SDQ-DP scores, sleep parameters, and circadian preference were assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and 3 weeks later. Results: No direct effects on SDQ-DP scores were observed. Sleep improved in both conditions. Only in the active BLT condition was a circadian phase advance found. Correlation and regression analyses indicated an indirect, circadian effect for improved SDQ-DP scores. Conclusions: The data of this pilot trial should be considered preliminary and merely descriptive. Further research is warranted.


Continuous Decisions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seng Bum Michael Yoo ◽  
Benjamin Hayden ◽  
John Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Microeconomic Theory ◽  
Engineering Control ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Academic Study

Humans and other animals evolved to make decisions that extend over time with continuous and ever-changing options. Nonetheless, the academic study of decision-making is mostly limited to the simple case of choice between two options. Here we advocate that the study of choice should expand to include continuous decisions. Continuous decisions, by our definition, involve a continuum of possible responses and take place over an extended period of time during which the response is continuously subject to modification. In most continuous decisions, the range of options can fluctuate and is affected by recent responses, making consideration of reciprocal feedback between choices and the environment essential. The study of continuous decisions raises new questions, such as how abstract processes of valuation and comparison are co-implemented with action planning and execution, how we simulate the large number of possible futures our choices lead to, and how our brains employ hierarchical structure to make choices more efficiently. While microeconomic theory has proven invaluable for discrete decisions, we propose that engineering control theory may serve as a better foundation for continuous ones. And while the concept of value has proven foundational for discrete decisions, goal states and policies may prove more useful for continuous ones.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Patterns of Ethical Organisational Culture as a Context for Leaders’ Well-Being: Cumulative Effects Over 6 Years

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Huhtala ◽  
Muel Kaptein ◽  
Joona Muotka ◽  
Taru Feldt
Keyword(s):  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Ethical Culture ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
Over Time

AbstractThe aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate the temporal dynamics of ethical organisational culture and how it associates with well-being at work when potential changes in ethical culture are measured over an extended period of 6 years. We used a person-centred study design, which allowed us to detect both typical and atypical patterns of ethical culture stability as well as change among a sample of leaders. Based on latent profile analysis and hierarchical linear modelling we found longitudinal, concurrent relations and cumulative gain and loss cycles between different ethical culture patterns and leaders’ well-being. Leaders in the strongest ethical culture pattern experienced the highest level of work engagement and a decreasing level of ethical dilemmas and stress. Leaders who gave the lowest ratings on ethical culture which also decreased over time reported the highest level of ethical dilemmas, stress, and burnout. They also showed a continuous increase in these negative outcomes over time. Thus, ethical culture has significant cumulative effects on well-being, and these longitudinal effects can be both negative and positive, depending on the experienced strength of the culture’s ethicality.

737 Prediction of drop out in an adjunctive light treatment trial in patients with non-seasonal depression and evening chronotype

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A287-A288
Author(s):  
Joey W Chan ◽  
Y K Wing ◽  
S P Lam ◽  
Shirley Xin Li ◽  
J Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Light Treatment ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Sleep Diary ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Seasonal Depression

Abstract Introduction Drop out during treatment hampers therapeutic effect of interventions. The current study examines the possible predictors of drop out during the five-week light treatment in patients with unipolar non-seasonal depression and evening-chronotype. Methods Baseline characteristics including demographics, sleep diary parameters, light treatment prescribed, and early clinical outcomes changes were compared between the Drop out and Non drop out group. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine predictors for drop out. All data were analyzed in a modified intention to treat analysis with last observation carried forward approach. Results A total of 91 subjects (Female 79%, 46.3 ± 11.8 years old) were included in the analysis. There was no significant difference in the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between the Drop out and Non drop out group. There was also no significant difference in the improvement of clinical parameters over the first week among the two groups. However, treatment non-adherence (in terms of compliance of less than 80% of prescribed duration) over the first treatment week predicts a five-fold increase in risk of drop out during light therapy. (OR: 5.85, CI: 1.414–24.205, p=0.015) after controlling for potential confounders including age, gender, treatment group, patient expectation, and treatment-emergent adverse events. Conclusion This study found that baseline clinical characteristics including depression severity and improvement of depressive symptoms in the initial week did not differ between the Drop out and Non drop out group. The drop out was also not affected by the type of light (dim red versus bright red light), indirectly supporting dim red light as a valid placebo in bright light therapy trial. Treatment adherence is the early phase of light treatment is an important predictor of drop out. Support (if any):

Wake therapy yields sustained response and remission. A rater-blind 9 weeks controlled study using a chronotherapeutic intervention compared to exercise

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2031-2031 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Martiny ◽  
E. Refsgaard ◽  
V. Lund ◽  
M. Lunde ◽  
P. Bech
Keyword(s):  
Remission Rate ◽  
Placebo Response ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Sustained Response ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Time Control

IntroductionWake therapy (sleep deprivation) is known to induce a rapid amelioration of depressive symptoms. Recently, techniques using bright light therapy and sleep time control have been developed to sustain the acute response of wake therapy.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to establish the efficacy of these new methods and to control for the placebo response by incorporating an active control group.MethodsPatients with an actual diagnosis of unipolar or bipolar major depression were randomized to either a wake group or an exercise group and followed for 9 weeks. All patient were treated with duloxetine 60 mg daily. After a one week medication run-in phase, all patient were admitted to an open ward for six days: The wake group had 3 wake nights during their stay in combination with daily bright light treatment and sleep time control and the exercise-group started their exercise program. Bright light and exercise were continued for the whole study period.ResultsPatients in the wake group had a statistically significant larger improvement from immediately after wake therapy and maintained for the rest of the study period. At end of study the Wake group achieved a response / remission rate of 70.2 % and 45.6 %. The exercise group had a response/remission rate of 42.2 % and 23.1 %ConclusionThe chronotherapeutic intervention induced a rapid and sustained response superior to the response seen in the exercise group.

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