Dawn simulation and bright light in the treatment of SAD: a controlled study

Avery, David; Eder, Derek N.; Bolte, Mary Ann; Hellekson, Carla; Dünner, David L.; Vitiello, Michael V.; Prinz, Patricia N.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01200-8

Cited by 109 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Beneficial effects of light on mood may be mediated through long-term circadian effects (Avery et al, 2001;Lewy et al, 1987). Another possible neuroanatomical modulator for these effects is the amygdala, a key component of the limbic system, which encompasses brain areas related to emotion processing, with direct projections from melanopsin-containing intrinsic photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), and is acutely affected by light exposure (Vandewalle et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Artificial Dawn and Morning Blue Light on Daytime Cognitive Performance, Well-being, Cortisol and Melatonin Levels

Gabel

Maire

Reichert

et al. 2013

Chronobiology International

134

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Light exposure elicits numerous effects on human physiology and behavior, such as better cognitive performance and mood. Here we investigated the role of morning light exposure as a countermeasure for impaired cognitive performance and mood under sleep restriction (SR). Seventeen participants took part of a 48h laboratory protocol, during which three different light settings (separated by 2 wks) were administered each morning after two 6-h sleep restriction nights: a blue monochromatic LED (light-emitting diode) light condition (BL; 100 lux at 470 nm for 20 min) starting 2 h after scheduled wake-up time, a dawn-simulating light (DsL) starting 30 min before and ending 20 min after scheduled wake-up time (polychromatic light gradually increasing from 0 to 250 lux), and a dim light (DL) condition for 2 h beginning upon scheduled wake time (58 lux). Cognitive tasks were performed every 2 h during scheduled wakefulness, and questionnaires were administered hourly to assess subjective sleepiness, mood, and wellbeing. Salivary melatonin and cortisol were collected throughout scheduled wakefulness in regular intervals, and the effects on melatonin were measured after only one light pulse. Following the first SR, analysis of the time course of cognitive performance during scheduled wakefulness indicated a decrease following DL, whereas it remained stable following BL and significantly improved after DsL. Cognitive performance levels during the second day after SR were not significantly affected by the different light conditions. However, after both SR nights, mood and well-being were significantly enhanced after exposure to morning DsL compared with DL and BL. Melatonin onset occurred earlier after morning BL exposure, than after morning DsL and DL, whereas salivary cortisol levels were higher at wake-up time after DsL compared with BL and DL. Our data indicate that exposure to an artificial morning dawn simulation light improves subjective well-being, mood, and cognitive performance, as compared with DL and BL, with minimal impact on circadian phase. Thus, DsL may provide an effective strategy for enhancing cognitive performance, wellbeing, and mood under mild sleep restriction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Artificial Dawn and Morning Blue Light on Daytime Cognitive Performance, Well-being, Cortisol and Melatonin Levels

Gabel

Maire

Reichert

et al. 2013

Chronobiology International

134

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“…Interestingly, it has been shown that a simulated dawn was more effective than a square-wave, bright-light stimulus (light-on/lights-off) in treating SAD patients (Avery et al, 2001;Terman & Terman, 2006). This suggests that light exposure before consciously waking up exerts some effect that cannot be achieved even with exposure to bright light after awakening.…”

Section: Effects Of Artificial Dawn On Sleep Inertia 1233mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Artificial Dawn on Subjective Ratings of Sleep Inertia and Dim Light Melatonin Onset

Giménez

Hessels²,

Werken³

et al. 2010

Chronobiology International

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Effects of artificial dawn on subjective ratings of sleep inertia and dim light melatonin onset Gimenez, Marina C.; Hessels, Martijn; van de Werken, Maan; de Vries, Bonnie; Beersma, Domien G. M.; Gordijn, Marijke C. M. Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. The timing of work and social requirements has a negative impact on performance and well-being of a significant proportion of the population in our modern society due to a phenomenon known as social jetlag. During workdays, in the early morning, late chronotypes, in particular, suffer from a combination of a nonoptimal circadian phase and sleep deprivation. Sleep inertia, a transient period of lowered arousal after awakening, therefore, becomes more severe. In the present home study, the authors tested whether the use of an alarm clock with artificial dawn could reduce complaints of sleep inertia in people having difficulties in waking up early. The authors also examined whether these improvements were accompanied by a shift in the melatonin rhythm. Two studies were performed: Study 1: three conditions (0, 50, and 250 lux) and Study 2: two conditions (0 lux and self-selected dawn-light intensity). Each condition lasted 2 weeks. In both studies, the use of the artificial dawn resulted in a significant reduction of sleep inertia complaints. However, no significant shift in the onset of melatonin was observed after 2 weeks of using the artificial dawn of 250 lux or 50 lux compared to the control condition. A multilevel analysis revealed that only the presence of the artificial dawn, rather than shift in the dim light melatonin onset or timing of sleep offset, is related to the observed reduction of sleep inertia complaints. Mechanisms other than shift of circadian rhythms are needed to explain the positive results on sleep inertia of waking up with a dawn signal. (Author correspondence: m.c.gimenez@rug.nl)

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“…The seasonal depression, usually found among people living in northern latitudes, is referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which describes the depression caused by lack of daylight [8]. According to Avery and colleagues, more than 10% of the population of Finland and about 6% of that of the United States suffer from this seasonal disorder [18].…”

Section: Spectral Characteristics Of Daylighting and Artificial Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Light and Productivity: Analyzing the Impacts of Daylighting on Students’ and Workers’ Health and Alertness

2016

IJACEBS

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Abstract-Studies show that the quality of the school environment significantly influences students' academic performance. Among the many attributes of the school environment, light is one of the most visible and talked about ones. Lighting in the classrooms has been the subject of many studies for over a century. In recent years, special attention has been given to the impact of natural light on learning as light has physiological, psychological and behavioral influences on school children as well as workers. A multitude of surveys has indicated also that daylight impacts the health. We believe that workers' and students' health, satisfaction, attention, and consequently performance are improved with the help of natural light. This paper discusses the current literature and design-based evidence to evaluate the impacts of natural light on office workers and students' scholastic performance. Issues of timing and exposure to daylight are also discussed.Keywords-Daylighting, Morning Sunlight, Students, Health, Workers Performance, Alertness I. INTRODUCTIONAmong the many elements that impact building occupants, lighting seems to have the most influence. Light is an essence for humans and it is known that has physical, physiological, and psychological influences [1].In the early part of the 20 th century, natural light was the primary source of building illumination. In a short span of a couple of decades, electric lighting became the primary source of illumination, mostly because of convenience. In recent years, energy conservation and environmental concerns have changed those practices and brought daylighting once again at the forefront of the sustainability debate [2]. For decades, an appropriate lighting design was based on the idea that it should meet the needs of the building occupants especially in terms of visual task performance. However, recent connections between health and wellbeing and lighting have made lighting of building interiors one of the most salient environmental factors in architectural design [1]. Recent studies have proven that there is a correlation between lighting and humans' performance and health. Light does not only provide visual information but also constitutes a powerful modulator of our circadian rhythm and many non-visual functions including the state of alertness, mental focus, and cognitive performance [3]. Light is also an important ingredient in educational settings, as it appears to have strong influences on cognition and learning. Research on electric lighting in classrooms has received some attention over the last few decades but research on the impact of natural light on students has been somewhat scarce [4]. The limited number of studies in this area seem to show that windows and daylight can enhance students' physical and psychological health, influence their mood, behavior and learning [5], [6]. Our study presents a comprehensive review of recent work that explored the relationship between daylight and students' and workers' health and performance. In this regard, the in...

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Dawn simulation and bright light in the treatment of SAD: a controlled study

Cited by 109 publications

References 47 publications

Effects of Artificial Dawn and Morning Blue Light on Daytime Cognitive Performance, Well-being, Cortisol and Melatonin Levels

Effects of Artificial Dawn and Morning Blue Light on Daytime Cognitive Performance, Well-being, Cortisol and Melatonin Levels

Effects of Artificial Dawn on Subjective Ratings of Sleep Inertia and Dim Light Melatonin Onset

Natural Light and Productivity: Analyzing the Impacts of Daylighting on Students’ and Workers’ Health and Alertness

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