Key result
Red and green light exposure increases HRV self-similarity, whereas blue light decreases it.
Why the study?
Does exposure to colored fluorescent light influence heart rate variability in healthy volunteers?
Does exposure to colored fluorescent light influence heart rate variability in healthy volunteers?
Short-term exposure to specific colors of fluorescent light distinctly alters heart rate variability and autonomic regulation in healthy individuals.
May influence HRV via light color in healthy volunteers; leaves open clinical translation and requires prospective validation.
BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of illumination with colored fluorescent light on heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic regulation. Previous examinations have only focused on full-spectrum fluorescent bright light as it is used for the therapy of seasonal affective disorder and disturbances of circadian rhythms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 3 experiments, 12 healthy volunteers were exposed for 10 min to red, green and blue fluorescent light of 700 lux, respectively. These illumination periods were followed and preceded by 15 min of darkness. HRV series were recorded within the last minutes of each illumination and darkness period. HRV analysis encompassed time domain variables, frequency domain variables and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). RESULTS: DFA yielded a highly significant increase of the self-similarity parameter aDFA under red and green illumination, while blue light was accompanied by a decrease. A spectral analysis revealed parallel behavior of very low frequency components in the range of 0.003-0.04 Hz. Green light also seemed to induce a reduction in high frequency components. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that colored light can influence HRV within minutes and that the effects of individual colors can be distinguished by HRV analysis.
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Schäfer et al. (2006) studied Healthy (n=12). Red, green, and blue fluorescent light vs. Darkness was evaluated on Heart rate variability (time domain, frequency domain, and detrended fluctuation analysis). Exposure to red and green fluorescent light significantly increased the self-similarity parameter aDFA of heart rate variability, whereas blue light decreased it.
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