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Chapter 13 - Light exposure for improving cognition during sleep loss and circadian misalignment

from Section 3 - Alternatives for Sustaining Cognitive Performance During Sleep Loss

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2012

By
Kenneth P. Wright ,
Tina M. Burke  and
Mark R. Smith
Edited by
Nancy J. Wesensten
Nancy J. Wesensten
Affiliation:
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
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Summary

This chapter focuses on the biological effects of light on human physiology and behavior with an emphasis on brain arousal. Light exposure may be beneficial in situations where humans are physiologically vulnerable to the effects of sleep loss and circadian misalignment. The influence of light on human physiology and behavior has implications for public health and safety, especially for individuals who are required to maintain alert wakefulness during the biological night-time and for individuals who are required to maintain alertness and performance during periods of sustained wakefulness or restricted sleep. Light provides input for visual image formation and concurrently provides environmental information to modulate the physiology and behaviors collectively referred to as non-image forming (NIF) responses. The chapter reviews the alerting effects of night-time light exposure which are primarily observed during light exposure. Light has also been combined with other wakefulness-promoting countermeasures to enhance performance at night during sleep deprivation.

Keywords

caffeineDigit-Symbol Substitution Testphysiological effectsshort-term memorysleep loss
Type
Chapter
Information
Sleep Deprivation, Stimulant Medications, and Cognition , pp. 184 - 198
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2012

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