The impact of bright artificial white and ‘blue-enriched’ light on sleep and circadian phase during the polar winter: Sleep and light in Antarctica
Abstract
Delayed sleep phase (and sometimes free-run) is common in the Antarctic winter (no natural sunlight) and optimizing the artificial light conditions is desirable. This project evaluated sleep when using 17,000 K blue-enriched lamps compared with standard white lamps (5000 K) for personal and communal illumination. Base personnel, 10 males, five females, 32.5±8 years took part in the study. From 24 March to 21 September 2006 light exposure alternated between 4-5-week periods of standard white (5000 K) and blue-enriched lamps (17,000 K), with a 3-week control before and after extra light. Sleep and light exposure were assessed by actigraphy and sleep diaries. General health (RAND 36-item questionnaire) and circadian phase (urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin rhythm) were evaluated at the end of each light condition. Direct comparison (rmanova) of blue-enriched light with white light showed that sleep onset was earlier by 19 min (P=0.022), and sleep latency tended to be shorter by 4 min (P=0.065) with blue-enriched light. Analysing all light conditions, control, blue and white, again provided evidence for greater efficiency of blue-enriched light compared with white (P<0.05), but with the best sleep timing, duration, efficiency and quality in control natural light conditions. Circadian phase was earlier on average in midwinter blue compared with midwinter white light by 45 min (P<0.05). Light condition had no influence on general health. We conclude that the use of blue-enriched light had some beneficial effects, notably earlier sleep, compared with standard white light during the polar winter.
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Blue-enriched higher color temperature lamps significantly influenced sleep onset (earlier) and reduced sleep latency in the personnel at a research station in Antarctica.
“When the effects between exposures during the day to blue‐enriched white light and white light were compared, the blue‐enriched higher color temperature lamps significantly influenced sleep onset (earlier) and reduced sleep latency in the personnel at a research station in Antarctica 64.”
From The inner clock-Blue light sets the human rhythm (2019) · cites this paper as [64]
Blue-enriched white light synchronized the circadian rhythm.
“This result, suggesting that blue‐enriched white light synchronized the circadian rhythm, is corroborated with other results showing that blue light is more efficient in melatonin suppression than other wavelengths 65, 66, and can thus be seen as the most potent zeitgeber.”
From The inner clock-Blue light sets the human rhythm (2019) · cites this paper as [64]
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The inner clock-Blue light sets the human rhythm
Wahl, S., Engelhardt, M., Schaupp, P., Lappe, C., & Ivanov, I. V. (2019) · Journal of Biophotonics · doi:10.1002/jbio.201900102 · Cited by 293 · see citing works
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- Authors
- MOTTRAM, V., MIDDLETON, B., WILLIAMS, P., & ARENDT, J.
- Affiliations
- British Antarctic Survey (GB)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- ORCID
- MIDDLETON, BENITA
- Venue
- Journal of Sleep Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-08-17
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1pt2
- Pages
- 154-161
- ISSN
- 0962-1105 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1766185984
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sleep Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- NERC Open Research Archive (Natural Environment Research Council) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Environment Research Council (bas010013)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- blue-enriched light, artificial light, circadian phase, sleep onset, sleep latency, delayed sleep phase, Antarctic winter, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, sleep quality, light exposure, health-related quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Cold Climate, Female, Humans, Light, Male, Medical Records, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sleep, Time Factors
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