Bright lights may lead to depression
POSTED October 23, 2009 - 14:37 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on October 23, 2009 - 15:08
According to researchers the quality and type of lighting can have a significant impact on the health comfort and orientation of the people.
Most lighting systems in use today do not take individual needs and activities into account, hence people who spends long periods in artificially lit buildings can be victims of erratic sleep and drained of energy, they said.
Study conducted on laboratory mice
Psychologists conducted a study on mice to understand the impact of artificial light on depressive symptoms. The researchers examined 24 male laboratory mice for several weeks.
Half the rodents were housed in an illuminated room for 24 hours while the remaining mice were kept in the dark for 8 hours and in light for 16 hours.
In addition, half of each group had opaque tubes in their units that enabled them to escape light when they chose to do so. The other half had clear tubes that allowed the light to filter in.
After three weeks the researchers observed that the rodents kept in perpetual brightness displayed definite depressive symptoms as opposed to those who managed to get away from the light.
Laura Fonken from Ohio State University, who led the study, stated, “The ability to escape light seemed to quell the depressive effects. But constant light with no chance of escape increased depressive symptoms.”
Constant light increases depressive disorders
According to the researchers, the bright lights from street lamps or hallway fixtures may disrupt sleep and have an adverse effect on the mental health of people.
The study could be vital for intensive care units in hospitals, where the lights are often kept on all night.
Co-author Randy Nelson, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Ohio State suggests, "The increasing rate of depressive disorders in humans corresponds with the increasing use of light at night in modern society.
"Many people are now exposed to unnatural light cycles, and that may have real consequences for our health".
The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago. It will also feature in the December issue of the journal Behavioural Brain Research.
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