The Impact of Light Exposure on Cognitive Function in Classrooms

The Impact of Light Exposure on Cognitive Function in Classrooms

Humans are constantly exposed to a variety of light types, created naturally or through artificial means. Light exposure captured by the eyes impacts many physiological functions in humans, including but not limited to cognitive output, fatigue levels, and mood regulation. The level of impact on cognitive learning from different types of light on undergraduate adult students remains unclear.

This study has chosen to test light's impact on adult (18 years and older) undergraduate students' cognitive function. We hypothesize that students who wear light-enriched Type1 glasses (bright light emitting glasses) for one session (20 minutes) will experience greater cognitive function, than those who either wear light-enriched Type 2 glasses(placebo light) or no glasses at all.

This study will answer the following questions:

1. After a single session (20 minutes) of wearing light-enriched glasses, on average how much did the students' cognitive function increase as compared to students without light-enriched glasses?

2. Does cognitive function increase to a comparable degree using both types of light-enriched glasses for a single session (20 minutes)?

3. Does the time of day impact the effects of light-enriched glasses during a single session (20 minutes), thus improve cognitive function?

4. Does time of day impact cognitive function for students who do not participate in light-enriched testing?

   The study will gather additional data variables on the following questions:

5. After wearing either type of light-enriched glasses, did the student's fatigue decrease throughout the study? How does this data compare to those who did not take part in light glasses testing?

6. After wearing either type of light-enriched glasses, did the student's mood increase throughout the study? How does this data compare to those who did not take part in light glasses testing?

7. How does the compiled data from the questionnaires and tests compare to sleep data collected from Smart Watches?

Objectives:

• Data points from participants will be captured through the following questionnaires and testing methods:

  1. Consent Form (~ 4 min)
  2. Student Questionnaire (~ 2 min) [Demographics]
  3. Chronotype Questionnaire, Morningness - Eveningness Self-Assessment * (~ 4 min)[This document tells you if you are an early bird or a night owl.]
  4. Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire* (~ 2 min) [This document tells you your sleep quality.]
  5. PHQ-9 Test * (~ 2 min) [This document assesses your mood.]
  6. PROMIS Fatigue Score Test [Measures your current fatigue levels.]
  7. Trail Making Test [Measures your cognitive function.]

• Additional data variables will be obtained from sleep data captured on personal Smart Watches by participants in the study. In the Student Questionnaire, participants are asked if they would be willing and able to provide the research team with their personal sleep data, covering a time period of two weeks prior to the study and three weeks during the study. This will enable researchers to compare Smart Watch data with fatigue scores and the Sleep Quality Index (Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire).

• Prior to testing, light composition readings will be taken from numerous locations within the classrooms and outdoors. Light readings will be obtained through a Spectral Light Meter. These readings will allow the researchers to control for ambient light exposure prior to the testing of the light emitting glasses.

Inclusion criteria for wearing light glasses:

• Current Michigan State University (MSU) Undergraduate Student
• Are 18 years or older
• Healthy subject without light sensitivity
• Average bedtime 9:30 pm - 2:00 am, 6 out of 7 days a week
• Willingness to measure and report fatigue levels
• Willingness to participate in cognitive testing
• Willingness to wear light-enriched glasses in the classroom

Inclusion criteria for the control group (will not wear light glasses):

• Current Michigan State University (MSU) Undergraduate Student
• Are 18 years or older
• Average bedtime 9:30 pm - 2:00 am, 6 out of 7 days a week
• Willingness to measure and report fatigue levels
• Willingness to participate in cognitive testing

Inclusion criteria for the control group (will not wear light glasses):

• Current Michigan State University (MSU) Undergraduate Student
• Are 18 years or older
• Average bedtime 9:30 pm - 2:00 am, 6 out of 7 days a week
• Willingness to measure and report fatigue levels
• Willingness to participate in cognitive testing

Exclusion criteria for wearing light glasses:

• Are younger than 18 years of age
• Participation in shift work (evening/night shifts, early morning shifts, rotating shifts, etc.)
• Pregnant women
• Previous diagnosis of diabetes
• Use of medication that would cause sensitivity to light (e.g., antidepressants, antibiotics,prescribed sleep medication, prescribed pain meds)
• Epilepsy or a history of seizures
• Photophobia - sensitivity or eye discomfort to bright light
• Eye Diseases that limit the ability of light to be processed (e.g., untreated cataracts,severe glaucoma, macular degeneration, blindness, pupil dilation problems, or retinadamage)
• Previous eye surgery
• Previous head injuries (e.g., concussions)
• Current chronic, severe headaches/migraines
• Clinical insomniacs or those with diagnosed sleep disorders