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Effects of changing illuminance on somatosensory function.
Naoki Yoshinaga1, Mizuho Fujita, Yuji L Tanaka
1Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Hospital, Japan. yoshinaga.n@hospital.chiba-u.jp
Journal of Physiological Anthropology
|August 2, 2011
Summary
Altering artificial light levels impacts how we perceive touch. Lowering illuminance generally reduced sensory perception, while raising it increased it, though exceptions suggest attention and emotion play roles.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Artificial lighting significantly impacts human physiology and perception.
- Illuminance and color temperature are key factors influencing physiological responses.
- The precise relationship between illuminance levels and somatosensory function remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a laboratory model for investigating the effects of varying illuminance on somatosensory function.
- To quantify objective and subjective changes in somatosensory perception under different lighting conditions.
- To explore the influence of illuminance on the brain's processing of sensory information.
Main Methods:
- Subjects were exposed to three illuminance levels (200 lx, 50 lx, 0 lx) in various combinations.
- Objective somatosensory function was assessed using somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP).
- Subjective sensory evaluation was conducted via visual analogue scale (VAS) and interviews.
Main Results:
- SEP amplitude and VAS scores typically decreased with lower illuminance and increased with higher illuminance.
- An increase in SEP amplitude and VAS scores was observed in some instances despite low illuminance.
- These variations may be linked to attention and emotional responses triggered by reduced lighting.
Conclusions:
- Illuminance levels demonstrably influence somatosensory perception, affecting both objective measures (SEP) and subjective reports (VAS).
- The observed effects are not solely dependent on illuminance, with attention and emotional responses potentially modulating sensory processing.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the complex interplay between lighting, attention, emotion, and somatosensation.
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