TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Sustained effects of prior red light on pupil diameter and vigilance during subsequent darkness
JO  - Proceedings of the Royal Society - biological sciences
A1  - van der Meijden, Wisse P.
A1  - Te Lindert, Bart H. W.
A1  - Ramautar, Jennifer R.
A1  - Wei, Yishul
A1  - Coppens, Joris E.
A1  - Kamermans, Maarten
A1  - Cajochen, Christian
A1  - Bourgin, Patrice
A1  - Van someren, Eus J. W.
SP  - e0989
EP  - e0989
VL  - 285
IS  - 1883
N2  - Environmental light can exert potent effects on physiology and behaviour, including pupil size, vigilance and sleep. Previous work showed that these non-image forming effects can last long beyond discontinuation of <i>short</i>-wavelength light exposure. The possible functional effects after switching off <i>long</i>-wavelength light, however, have been insufficiently characterized. In a series of controlled experiments in healthy adult volunteers, we evaluated the effects of five minutes of intense red light on physiology and performance during subsequent darkness. As compared to prior darkness, prior red light induced a subsequent sustained pupil dilation. Prior red light also increased subsequent heart rate and heart rate variability when subjects were asked to perform a sustained vigilance task during the dark exposure. While these changes suggest an increase in the mental effort required for the task, it could not prevent a post-red slowing of response speed. The suggestion that exposure to intense red light affects vigilance during subsequent darkness, was confirmed in a controlled polysomnographic study that indeed showed a post-red facilitation of sleep onset. Our findings suggest the possibility of using red light as a nightcap.<br><br>© 2018 The Author(s).<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0962-8452
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0989
ID  - ref1
ER  -