London - Feeling blue could take on a whole new meaning – as scientists have found that blue light actually perks you up.
The coloured light was found to improve alertness and reaction times.
Researchers exposed half of a group of volunteers to green light and the other half to blue light for six and a half hours each.
The 16 participants then rated how sleepy they felt, had their reaction times measured and wore electrodes to map changes to their brain activity.
The results, published in the journal Sleep, found that those exposed to blue light rated themselves as less sleepy, had quicker reaction times and fewer lapses of attention compared to those who were exposed to green light. Their brain activity also showed a more alert state.
The research was carried out by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University.
According to neuroscientist Dr Steven Lockley, blue light could help improve alertness in those working night shifts, as well as helping daytime staff who weren’t exposed to natural light feel more awake and productive. - Daily Mail