3 ms·

Is there any solid peer-reviewed, published papers on this stuff? While it sounds intuitively correct and attractive, I've struggled to find anything rigorous t

Is there any solid peer-reviewed, published papers on this stuff? While it sounds intuitively correct and attractive, I've struggled to find anything rigorous that shows light colour and intensity in the evening has an effect of sleep quality - its all anecdotal.

wainstead 7y ago
Second this, and I wonder how people who live near the equator respond to seasons and light vs. people closer to the Arctic circle.
- Broken_Hippo 7y ago
  Very much this. I live in Norway. While I'm below the Arctic circle, summer nights are bright. I don't need outdoor lighting to read as the sun goes juuuust below the horizon. This time of year, days are short and the light intensity never really gets all that bright. I don't have issues with any of it - and I'm an immigrant.
  - keenmaster 7y ago
    There are many genetic differences, even within a given ethnicity, concerning sleep. What may impair sleep for one individual may have no effect for another. This variation may have been beneficial from an evolutionary standpoint, because variable sleep schedules meant that someone in a given community could always respond to threats.
throw0101a 7y ago
The general field of study is called chronobiology. Doing a search for "chronobiology light sleep" gives all sorts of results. One example: > Environmental light synchronizes the primary mammalian biological clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, as well as many peripheral clocks in tissues and cells, to the solar 24-hour day. Light is the strongest synchronizing agent (zeitgeber) for the circadian system, and therefore keeps most biological and psychological rhythms internally synchronized, which is important for optimum function. Circadian sleep-wake disruptions and chronic circadian misalignment, as often observed in psychiatric and neurodegenerative illness, can be treated with light therapy. The beneficial effect on circadian synchronization, sleep quality, mood, and cognitive performance depends on timing, intensity, and spectral composition of light exposure. Tailoring and optimizing indoor lighting conditions may be an approach to improve wellbeing, alertness, and cognitive performance and, in the long term, producing health benefits. * https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553574/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553574/ There are 61 foot notes in the above paper, so that should help you get starting going down this rabbit hole. :)

wainstead 7y ago

Second this, and I wonder how people who live near the equator respond to seasons and light vs. people closer to the Arctic circle.

Broken_Hippo 7y ago
Very much this. I live in Norway. While I'm below the Arctic circle, summer nights are bright. I don't need outdoor lighting to read as the sun goes juuuust below the horizon. This time of year, days are short and the light intensity never really gets all that bright. I don't have issues with any of it - and I'm an immigrant.
- keenmaster 7y ago
  There are many genetic differences, even within a given ethnicity, concerning sleep. What may impair sleep for one individual may have no effect for another. This variation may have been beneficial from an evolutionary standpoint, because variable sleep schedules meant that someone in a given community could always respond to threats.

throw0101a 7y ago

The general field of study is called chronobiology. Doing a search for "chronobiology light sleep" gives all sorts of results. One example: > Environmental light synchronizes the primary mammalian biological clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, as well as many peripheral clocks in tissues and cells, to the solar 24-hour day. Light is the strongest synchronizing agent (zeitgeber) for the circadian system, and therefore keeps most biological and psychological rhythms internally synchronized, which is important for optimum function. Circadian sleep-wake disruptions and chronic circadian misalignment, as often observed in psychiatric and neurodegenerative illness, can be treated with light therapy. The beneficial effect on circadian synchronization, sleep quality, mood, and cognitive performance depends on timing, intensity, and spectral composition of light exposure. Tailoring and optimizing indoor lighting conditions may be an approach to improve wellbeing, alertness, and cognitive performance and, in the long term, producing health benefits. * https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553574/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3553574/ There are 61 foot notes in the above paper, so that should help you get starting going down this rabbit hole. :)