Adolescents and Classrooms      

As they transition into the second decade of life, adolescents’ sleep/wake pattern shifts later into the night and longer into the morning. These later bedtimes frequently involve the use of self-luminous electronic devices, which can further disrupt sleep due to adolescents’ greater sensitivity to light compared to younger children and adults. The Light and Health Research Center conducts research in adolescent populations to promote circadian entrainment and improve the lighted environment in the classroom and at home.

Alertness and Performance

Alertness and task performance are acutely influenced by exposure to light at any time of day or night. Research at the Center focuses on characterizing and specifying light for promoting alertness and performance in a wide range of populations and settings. U.S. Navy submariners, metropolitan railroad dispatchers, and night-shift nurses all have benefitted from research and lighting solutions developed and implemented by the Center’s researchers. 

Light at Night 

Exposure to light at night adversely affects human physiology and behavior, carrying increased risk for sleep disruption and life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Lighted environments that promote restful sleep and synchronization of the circadian system can counter these ill effects and are therefore crucial for maintaining health and well-being for people of all ages. We have conducted extensive research on the effects of light at night and developed techniques to improve sleep and health outcomes among older adults, patients and workers in general hospital settings and neonatal intensive care units, and evening workers. 

Office Lighting

Architectural lighting has traditionally addressed visual performance and the amount of light on the work plane, later focusing on energy efficiency and only recently considering human health outcomes. Our research team has examined sustainable lighting designs that meet energy-use goals while promoting the health and well-being of office workers. We have worked extensively with U.S. government agencies to improve the lighted environment and promote alertness and vitality in office buildings across the country and embassies in northern latitudes.

Older Adults and Elder Care

Tailored lighting interventions can dramatically improve the lives of older adults by promoting postural control and stability; mitigating some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease; improving sleep and mood; and optimizing the aging eye’s visual performance. The Center’s field research addresses these themes in diverse environments and populations, from Alzheimer’s disease patients in assisted living facilities to cognitively intact elders living at home.

Shift Work

Shift work has been linked to poor sleep, chronic metabolic disorders (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity), depression, and elevated risk for the occurrence of accidents, especially when workers’ schedules involve working through the night. The Center’s researchers are investigating and developing lighting intervention strategies to promote alertness and reduce health risks in shift workers.