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Daytime Cognitive Performance in Response to Sunlight or Fluorescent Light Controlling for Sleep DurationLight is the primary synchronizer of the human circadian rhythm and also has acute alerting effects. Our study involves and comparing the alertness, performance and sleep of participants in the NASA Ames Sustainability Base, which uses sunlight as its primary light source, to in a traditional office building which uses overhead florescent lighting and varying exposure to natural light. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of natural lighting as a primary light source improves daytime cognitive function and promotes nighttime sleep. Participants from the Sustainability Base will be matched by gender and age to individuals working in other NASA buildings. In a prior study we found no differences in performance between those working in the Sustainability Base and those working in other buildings. Unexpectedly, we found that the average sleep duration among participants in both buildings was short, which likely obscured our ability to detect a difference the effect of light exposure on alertness. Given that such sleep deprivation has negative effects on cognitive performance, in this iteration of the study we are asking the participants to maintain a regular schedule with eight hours in bed each night in order to control for the effect of self-selected sleep restriction. Over the course of one week, we will ask the participants to wear actiwatches continuously, complete a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and digit symbol substitution task (DSST) three times per day, and keep daily sleepwork diaries. We hope that this study will provide data to support the idea that natural lighting and green architectural design are optimal to enhance healthy nighttime sleep patterns and daytime cognitive performance.
Document ID
20150021843
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Ramos, Jhanic (Hartnell Coll Salinas, CA, United States)
Zamos, Adela (Hartnell Coll Salinas, CA, United States)
Rao, Rohit (San Jose State Univ. Research Foundation San Jose, CA, United States)
Flynn-Evans, Erin (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
November 25, 2015
Publication Date
August 6, 2015
Subject Category
Behavioral Sciences
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN25663
Meeting Information
Meeting: NASA Ames Research Center Internship Poster Session
Location: Moffett Field, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 6, 2015
Sponsors: NASA Ames Research Center
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
cognitive performance
fatigue
countermeasures

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