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Cerebral, systemic physiological and behavioral responses to colored light exposure during a cognitive task: A
Hamoon Zohdi1, Josefa Märki2, Felix Scholkmann1
1Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Behavioural Brain Research
|January 31, 2024
Summary
Colored light exposure (CLE) did not affect 2-back task performance, but influenced brain activity and physiological responses. Specific color sequences impacted visual cortex and electrodermal activity differently.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- Colored light significantly impacts human health, well-being, and environmental aesthetics.
- Beyond visual function, colored light influences cognitive performance, behavior, and systemic physiology.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for optimizing environments like workplaces and healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of colored light exposure (CLE) combined with a cognitive task (2-back) on performance, cerebral hemodynamics, oxygenation, and systemic physiology.
- To utilize systemic physiology augmented functional near-infrared spectroscopy (SPA-fNIRS) for comprehensive physiological assessment.
- To explore sequence-dependent effects of blue and red light exposure.
Main Methods:
- 36 healthy subjects underwent two measurement sessions in a randomized crossover design, exposed to sequences of blue and red light or vice versa.
- Participants performed a 2-back cognitive task during colored light exposure.
- Systemic physiology augmented functional near-infrared spectroscopy (SPA-fNIRS) monitored cerebral hemodynamics, oxygenation, and systemic physiological parameters like heart rate variability and electrodermal activity.
Main Results:
- 2-back task performance did not significantly differ between colored light conditions (p = 0.46).
- Task performance correlated with oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex and high-frequency heart rate variability, independent of light color.
- Sequence-dependent effects were observed in visual cortex (VC) and electrodermal activity (EDA), with distinct responses to the first versus second light exposure (blue vs. red).
Conclusions:
- Colored light exposure, while not directly impacting 2-back task performance, modulates cerebral hemodynamics and systemic physiological responses.
- The sequence of colored light exposure can lead to differential effects on visual cortex activity and electrodermal responses.
- Findings offer insights into the physiological and behavioral impacts of colored light, relevant for applications in education, work, and healthcare.
