Studies
Independent research and documents on the effects of light on humans
We present studies from scientific institutions around the world and results from renowned laboratories and workplaces dealing with the effects of light on the body.
â Sleep
Research from Shanghaiâs Fu-tan University investigating the effect of indoor LED lighting has shown that sufficient light with high biological efficiency during the day leads to higher daytime whiteness and night-time sleep quality.
| Title: |
Influence of the spectrum of all-day LED lighting on human daytime and night-time performance |
| Author: | Nuoyi Li, Sicong Zhou, Wenqing Miao, Congshan Dai, Ali Hassan Shah, Yandan Lin School of Information Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China |
| Date: | 15. February 2023 |
â Sleep
Blue light at bedtime and at night disrupts the sleep cycle by suppressing melatonin release and shifting circadian rhythms, leading to health problems such as increased risk of dementia, diabetes and heart disease.
| Title: |
National Geographic: About sleep and light |
| Author: | Michael Finkel National Geographic |
| Date: | 15. August 2018 |
â Mood
A University of Helsinki study found that exposure to bright light increased vitality and reduced depressive states in office workers.
| Title: |
Bright light improves vitality and alleviates distress in healthy people |
| Author: | Timo Partonena, Jouko Lonnqvist Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland |
| Date: | 20. March 1999 |
â Mood
Exposure to light at night disrupts circadian rhythms that are essential to human health and well-being, while also significantly contributing to the prevalence of mood disorders in modern societies, according to a study by US researchers.
| Title: |
Timing of light exposure affects mood and brain circuits |
| Author: | T. A. Bedrosian, R. J. Nelson Laboratory of Genetics, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA Department of Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Group, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA |
| Date: | 31. January 2017 |
â Mood
Research by the Technical University of Catalonia (Barcelona Tech, UPC) has confirmed that artificial lighting simulating sunlight has positive psychophysiological effects on test subjects in Oslo, Norway, including improved mood and overall well-being.
| Title: |
Influence of Simulated Natural Light on Mood and Well-being Case study at Obos Living Lab, Oslo, Norway |
| Author: | Giovanna Taques Martins, Adrian Muros Alcojor, Maria José Perdomo Centre de Politica de Sol i Valoracions, CPSV / Universitat PolitÚcnica de Catalunya, UPC |
| Date: | 29. May 2023 |
â Overall health
The CIE, the highest global authority on lighting, confirms the need to take into account the biological properties of artificial light for the proper functioning of the human body indoors and emphasises the impact on mental and physical health and vitality
| Title: |
CIE Statement on Non-Visual Effects of Light / CIE Position Statement on Integrative Lighting RECOMMENDING PROPER LIGHT AT THE PROPER TIME 1st, 2nd and 3rd Edition |
| Author: | CIE Central Bureau Dr Peter Zwick |
| Date: | 30. August 2024 |
â Eyes
A study by the Sorbonne University confirmed the harmful effects of concentrated blue and green spectral energy in light, and the ability of the red part of the spectrum to offset these negative effects. It therefore recommends changes to interior lighting standards.
| Title: |
The blue light hazard and its use on the evaluation of photochemical risk for domestic lighting. An in vivo study |
| Author: | Anaïs Françon, Francine Behar-Cohen, Alicia Torriglia Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université |
| Date: | 15. February 2024 |
â Mood
The National Institute of Mental Health of the Czech Republic has confirmed through two years of testing the unique effectiveness of Spectrasol full-spectrum phototherapy devices in the treatment of psychiatric diseases and their positive effect on mood, sleep and cognitive functions.
| Title: |
(1) Technology verification protocol: Light case, |
| Author: | (1) PhDr. Jana KopÅivová, Ph.D., Ing. arch. Lenka Maierová, Ph.D., Mgr. KateÅina Äervená, Ph.D., Ing. arch. Hana KárnÃková, doc. RNDr. ZdeÅka Bendová, Ph.D. (2) PhDr. Jana KopÅivová, Ph.D., Ing. arch. Lenka Maierová, Ph.D., Mgr. KateÅina Äervená, Ph.D., Mgr. KatarÃna Evansová, Mgr. KateÅina Skálová, Bc. Zuzana KaÅková, doc. Ing. Marek PioreckÃœ, Ph.D., Mgr. PÅemysl VlÄek, Ph.D., Mgr. KarolÃna Janků, Ph.D., Ing. arch. Hana KárnÃková, RNDr. Tereza NekováÅová, Ph.D., doc. RNDr. ZdeÅka Bendová, Ph.D. |
| Date: | 15. December 2023 |
â Productivity
The National Institute of Mental Health of the Czech Republic, in collaboration with the Third Medical Faculty of Charles University, states that the blue component of the light spectrum improves cognitive function and increases attention (the procognitive effect), but at the same time suppresses the secretion of melatonin for quality sleep if a person is exposed to it in the evening and at night.
| Title: |
Effects of blue light on the circadian system, sleep and cognitive performance |
| Author: | Michal Å motek, Jana KopÅivová, Peter Šóš National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany Charles University in Prague, Third Faculty of Medicine |
| Date: | 26. October 2015 |
â Overall health
A US-Australian research team examined the work of world experts in the field of circadian rhythms and came to a broad scientific consensus on the effect of light on the human body. They also mention the state of the electric lighting market and recommend changes to the standards.
| Title: |
Lights Should Support Circadian Rhythms: Evidence-Based Scientific Consensus |
| Author: | Martin Moore-Ede, David E. Blask, Sean W. Cain, Anneke Heitmann, Randy J. Nelson Circadian Light Research Center Tulane University School of Medicine Monash University Circadian Light Research Center West Virginia University |
| Date: | 19. January 2023 |
â Overall health
In the article, Chinese experts present the current scientific knowledge on how circadian rhythms regulate the immune system at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels, thereby contributing to homeostasis and disease resistance.
| Title: |
Circadian rhythm regulation in the immune system |
| Author: | Jun Ding, Pengyu Chen, Chunjian Qi Nanjing Medical University, China |
| Date: | 19. December 2023 |
â Mood
Swiss researchers demonstrate the benefits of daylight exposure in the afternoon on alertness, cognitive performance, subjective well-being and mood of office workers
| Title: |
Effects of realistic office daylighting and electric lighting conditions on visual comfort, alertness and mood |
| Author: | A. Borisuit, PhD, F. Linhart, PhD, J. L. Scartezzini, PhD and M. Munch, PhD Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Date: | 21. March 2014 |
â Eyes
An international study has confirmed the effectiveness of the photobiomodulatory effect of light for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that predominantly causes vision loss in the elderly.
| Title: |
LIGHTSITE II Randomized Multicenter Trial: Evaluation of Multiwavelength Photobiomodulation in Non-exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration |
| Author: | B.Burton, M. B. Parodi, I. Jurgens, X. Zanlonghi, D. Hornan, J. Roider, K. Lorenz, M. R. Munk, C. L. Croissant, S. E. Tedford, M. Walker, R. Ruckert, C. E. Tedford James Paget University, Great Yarmouth, UK Department of Ophthalmology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy Institut Catala de Retina, Barcelona, Spain Institut Ophtalmologique de L'Ouest-Clinique Jules VERNE, Nantes, France Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, UK Klinik FÌr Ophthalmologie, UniversitÀtsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany UniversitÀtsmedizin Mainz-Augenklinik, Mainz, Germany Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland LumiThera, Inc, Poulsbo, WA, USA |
| Date: | 2. January 2023 |
