Exposure to bright light has a positive effect on heart rate variability, thereby reducing stress levels
Exposure to bright electric light has been found to improve heart rate variability in healthy subjects. Increased heart rate variability is associated with increased activation of the nervous system, which is the opposite of the fight-or-flight response and whose activation is associated with a calming and regenerative state. Research has shown that exposure to bright light reduces stress by increasing the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and reducing the bodyâs stress response.
Exposure to bright daylight has a positive effect on serotonin production and mood
Exposure to daylight for 30 minutes (approximately 3000 lux) has been found to improve positive mood compared to the low levels of electric lighting (less than 100 lux). The mood-enhancing effects of light go beyond natural lighting, as in a field study in an office environment, bright electric light (approximately 2 500 lux) was associated with better mood, specifically reducing depressive symptoms and increasing feelings of vitality.
Exposure to bright light also has a positive effect on the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mental well-being, according to previous studies. Other studies confirm that light modulates the processing of emotional stimuli depending on its spectral composition.
