Biological Effects of Color Lighting for Different Ages

Abstract

The effects of lighting have extended to non-visual biological field since the intrinsic photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGC) was discovered at the beginning of 21st century. More relationships between lighting and health issues have been found since then. In this study, heart rate changes of both the young adults (about 25 years old) and the old adults (about 65 years old) who were exposed to dim lighting with different color (440nm, 460nm, 490nm and 510nm) were recorded. Significant statistical differences were found in the group of young adults, but no difference was found in the group of old adults. The analysis shows that the total light power entered into the eye is more reasonable to evaluate the non-visual effect of heart rate change. As one of the important non-visual effects of lighting is to synchronize the circadian rhythm, the results suggest that even dim color light can show biological effects on the young adults and the elderly may need more light to have the identical effects.