Color Glasses during Morning Drive for Commuting-Effects on Autonomic Functions, Alertness, and Nocturnal Sleep

Abstract

Abstract-Studies of illumination suggest possibility of color lights for adjusting our mind and body to suit desired activities. To examine if similar effects can be obtained by modulating relative contents of light color, biological effects of color-glass wearing during early-morning drive for commuting were studied. Compared with clear glasses, blue glasses increased low frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz) power and deceleration capacity and decreased respiration frequency during driving, while green, orange, and pink glasses made no significant difference from clear glasses. None of the color glasses showed significant difference in the performance to psychomotor vigilance test performed at the beginning and the end of work at job place or in the autonomic functions during sleep of that night. An increase in the content of blue-wavelength light by blue glasses during morning drive may attenuate sympathetic function, but it has no significant after-effect on daytime behavioral alertness or nighttime autonomic functions.