scholarly journals Does Bright Light Counteract the Post-lunch Dip in Subjective States and Cognitive Performance Among Undergraduate Students?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhou ◽  
Qingwei Chen ◽  
Xue Luo ◽  
Le Li ◽  
Taotao Ru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
White Light ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Bright Blue

The post-lunch dip in alertness and performance was widely experienced during the early afternoon. Taking a short nap was documented as a practical strategy for habitual nappers to counteract the decline of alertness and performance. Yet, it remains unknown whether bright light exposure in the early afternoon working hours could alleviate the performance deficits caused by a post-lunch nap loss for habitual nappers. Seventeen undergraduate students who had a long-term habit of taking a post-lunch nap were assigned to three interventions: (1) a short nap + normal indoor light (100 lx, 4,000 K at eye level); (2) no nap + normal indoor light, and (3) no nap + blue-enriched bright light (1,000 lx, 6,500 K at eye level), in which subjective alertness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, KSS), mood (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS), and task performance in sustained attention (psychomotor vigilance test, PVT), response inhibition (go/no-go task), and working memory (paced visual serial addition test, PVSAT) were measured. Results showed that a post-lunch nap deprivation significantly increased subjective sleepiness and negative mood and impaired performance in PVT and PVSAT, while exposure to bright blue-enriched white light vs. normal indoor light in the early afternoon significantly relieved such negative effects on mood, sleepiness, and performance in PVSAT; subjective positive mood and performance in PVT and go/no-go task remained unaffected with light intervention. These findings suggested that bright blue-enriched white light exposure could be a potential strategy for those who are suffering from drowsiness and low working memory following a habitual midday nap loss.

Influence of the perceived size of a light source on non-visual effects in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 385-393
Author(s):  
Arvid Niemeyer ◽  
Lucia Rottmair ◽  
Cornelius Neumann ◽  
Cornelius Möckel
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Measurement Point ◽  
Visual Effects ◽  
Lighting Conditions ◽  
Light Measurement ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Main Effects

AbstractLight not only enables humans to perceive their surroundings, but also influences their sleep–wake cycle, mood, concentration and performance. Targeted use of these so called nonvisual effects could also have a positive contribution in automobiles by keeping passengers alert, minimizing error rates or bootsting attention in general. Since construction space in vehicle interios is scarce, this study compared the influence of differently-sized light panels and thus solid angles on nonvisual effects. In a counterbalanced order, 32 volunteers were exposed to three lighting conditions in the morning: baseline (12 lx, 2200 K), small (200 lx, 6500 K, 0.05 sr) and large (200 lx, 6500 K, 0.44 sr). During each session of 60 min, alertness, concentration and working memory were assessed before and during light exposure. After data analysis no significant main effects of light, measurement point or interaction between light and measurement point could be seen.

scholarly journals Drug-specific laterality effects on frontal lobe activation of atomoxetine and methylphenidate in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder boys during working memory

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cubillo ◽  
A. B. Smith ◽  
N. Barrett ◽  
V. Giampietro ◽  
M. Brammer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Performance Deficits ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Clinical Dose ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
And Performance

BackgroundThe catecholamine reuptake inhibitors methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATX) are the most common treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study compares the neurofunctional modulation and normalization effects of acute doses of MPH and ATX within medication-naive ADHD boys during working memory (WM).MethodA total of 20 medication-naive ADHD boys underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during a parametric WM n-back task three times, under a single clinical dose of either MPH, ATX or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. To test for normalization effects, brain activations in ADHD under each drug condition were compared with that of 20 age-matched healthy control boys.ResultsRelative to healthy boys, ADHD boys under placebo showed impaired performance only under high WM load together with significant underactivation in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Both drugs normalized the performance deficits relative to controls. ATX significantly enhanced right DLPFC activation relative to MPH within patients, and significantly normalized its underactivation relative to controls. MPH, by contrast, both relative to placebo and ATX, as well as relative to controls, upregulated the left inferior frontal cortex (IFC), but only during 2-back. Both drugs enhanced fronto-temporo-striatal activation in ADHD relative to control boys and deactivated the default-mode network, which were negatively associated with the reduced DLPFC activation and performance deficits, suggesting compensation effects.ConclusionsThe study shows both shared and drug-specific effects. ATX upregulated and normalized right DLPFC underactivation, while MPH upregulated left IFC activation, suggesting drug-specific laterality effects on prefrontal regions mediating WM.

Preliminary effects of bright light on sleep in women with breast cancer

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9094-9094 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ancoli-Israel ◽  
M. Rissling ◽  
V. Trofimenko ◽  
B. A. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
White Light ◽  
Sleep Latency ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Ambulatory Monitoring ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Light Therapy ◽  
Wake Time ◽  
Bright White Light

9094 Background: Studies have shown that women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy report disturbed sleep. Studies have also suggested that these women have very little bright light exposure, yet it is known that bright light may improve sleep. We present preliminary data from an on-going study that addresses whether bright light improves sleep in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: 11 women (mean age=50.3 yrs, SD=8.4, range: 35–70 yrs) diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer, scheduled to receive at least 4 cycles of adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy participated. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and objective measures of sleep were assessed with 72-hours of actigraphy (Ambulatory Monitoring, Inc. and Respironics) at baseline (pre-chemotherapy) and during the last week of cycle 4 (C4). Participants were randomized into two treatment groups: bright white light (BWL; n=7) and dim red light (DRL; n=4). Both groups were instructed to self-administer light therapy for 30 minutes every morning throughout 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Results: In the BWL group, total sleep time (TST) increased by 41 min (SD=69), while wake time stayed approximately the same. In the DRL group TST decreased by 32 minutes (SD=30), while wake time increased by 27 minutes (SD=39). Subjectively, PSQI sleep latency subscale for BWL was reduced from 2.6 (SD=3.0, range=0–5) at baseline to 1.9 (SD=2.3, range=0–6) at C4, while for DRL, mean sleep latency increased from 2.7 (SD=2.5, range=0–5) at baseline to 3.0 (SD=3.0, range=0–6) at C4. PSQI total score for BWL decreased from 12.0 (SD=4.7, range=7–19) at baseline to 10.9 (SD=4.2, range=5–16) at C4 while for DRL it decreased from 8.3 (SD=3.1, range=5–11) at baseline to 7.7 (SD=5.1, range=2–12) at C4. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that bright white light may increase the number of hours of sleep in women undergoing chemotherapy, as well as decreasing sleep latency and improving sleep quality. As additional data are collected, we will be able to establish the significance of these effects. Supported by: CBCRP 11IB-0034, NCI CA112035, Litebook Company and the research service of the VASDHS. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Light at Night and Measures of Alertness and Performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana G. Figueiro ◽  
Levent Sahin ◽  
Brittany Wood ◽  
Barbara Plitnick
Keyword(s):  
White Light ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Circadian Phase ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
And Performance

Rotating-shift workers, particularly those working at night, are likely to experience sleepiness, decreased productivity, and impaired safety while on the job. Light at night has been shown to have acute alerting effects, reduce sleepiness, and improve performance. However, light at night can also suppress melatonin and induce circadian disruption, both of which have been linked to increased health risks. Previous studies have shown that long-wavelength (red) light exposure increases objective and subjective measures of alertness at night, without suppressing nocturnal melatonin. This study investigated whether exposure to red light at night would not only increase measures of alertness but also improve performance. It was hypothesized that exposure to both red (630 nm) and white (2,568 K) lights would improve performance but that only white light would significantly affect melatonin levels. Seventeen individuals participated in a 3-week, within-subjects, nighttime laboratory study. Compared to remaining in dim light, participants had significantly faster reaction times in the GO/NOGO test after exposure to both red light and white light. Compared to dim light exposure, power in the alpha and alpha-theta regions was significantly decreased after exposure to red light. Melatonin levels were significantly suppressed by white light only. Results show that not only can red light improve measures of alertness, but it can also improve certain types of performance at night without affecting melatonin levels. These findings could have significant practical applications for nurses; red light could help nurses working rotating shifts maintain nighttime alertness, without suppressing melatonin or changing their circadian phase.

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.

The Role of Gender and Sensation Seeking in Film Choice

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita C. Banerjee ◽  
Kathryn Greene ◽  
Marina Krcmar ◽  
Zhanna Bagdasarov ◽  
Dovile Ruginyte
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Subject Design ◽  
Happy Mood

This study demonstrates the significance of individual difference factors, particularly gender and sensation seeking, in predicting media choice (examined through hypothetical descriptions of films that participants anticipated they would view). This study used a 2 (Positive mood/negative mood) × 2 (High arousal/low arousal) within-subject design with 544 undergraduate students recruited from a large northeastern university in the United States. Results showed that happy films and high arousal films were preferred over sad films and low-arousal films, respectively. In terms of gender differences, female viewers reported a greater preference than male viewers for happy-mood films. Also, male viewers reported a greater preference for high-arousal films compared to female viewers, and female viewers reported a greater preference for low-arousal films compared to male viewers. Finally, high sensation seekers reported a preference for high-arousal films. Implications for research design and importance of exploring media characteristics are discussed.

Nonphotic entrainment of the human circadian pacemaker

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (4) ◽  
pp. R991-R996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth B. Klerman ◽  
David W. Rimmer ◽  
Derk-Jan Dijk ◽  
Richard E. Kronauer ◽  
Joseph F. Rizzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Core Body Temperature ◽  
Biological Clock ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Circadian Pacemaker ◽  
Temperature Rhythms ◽  
Blind Individuals ◽  
Nonphotic Entrainment ◽  
Core Body

In organisms as diverse as single-celled algae and humans, light is the primary stimulus mediating entrainment of the circadian biological clock. Reports that some totally blind individuals appear entrained to the 24-h day have suggested that nonphotic stimuli may also be effective circadian synchronizers in humans, although the nonphotic stimuli are probably comparatively weak synchronizers, because the circadian rhythms of many totally blind individuals “free run” even when they maintain a 24-h activity-rest schedule. To investigate entrainment by nonphotic synchronizers, we studied the endogenous circadian melatonin and core body temperature rhythms of 15 totally blind subjects who lacked conscious light perception and exhibited no suppression of plasma melatonin in response to ocular bright-light exposure. Nine of these fifteen blind individuals were able to maintain synchronization to the 24-h day, albeit often at an atypical phase angle of entrainment. Nonphotic stimuli also synchronized the endogenous circadian rhythms of a totally blind individual to a non-24-h schedule while living in constant near darkness. We conclude that nonphotic stimuli can entrain the human circadian pacemaker in some individuals lacking ocular circadian photoreception.

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