076 Bright light during wakefulness improves objective and subjective sleep quality: a forced desynchrony study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Under real life conditions, increased light exposure during wakefulness seems associated with improved sleep quality, quantified as reduced time awake during bed time, increased time spent in non-REM (NREM) sleep or increased power in the EEG delta band (0.5–4 Hz). The causality of these important relationships and their dependency on circadian clock phase and/or time awake has not been studied in depth. To establish causality of light effects during wake time on subsequent sleep, and to disentangle possible circadian and homeostatic interactions, we employed a forced desynchrony (FD) protocol under dim light (6.5 lux) and bright light (1307 lux) during wakefulness. Methods The protocol consisted of a fast cycling sleep-wake schedule (13h wakefulness – 5h sleep; 4 cycles), followed by 3h recovery sleep in a within subject cross-over design. Individuals (7 men) were equipped with 10 polysomnography electrodes. Subjective sleep quality was measured immediately after wakening. Results Results indicated that circadian variation in delta power was only detected under dim light. Circadian variation in time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and wakefulness were uninfluenced by light. Prior light exposure increased accumulation of delta power and time in NREM sleep, while decreasing wakefulness, especially during the circadian wake phase. Subjective sleep quality scores showed that participants were only able to assess light induced improvement of sleep quality correctly when the circadian system promoted wakefulness. Conclusion This study presents significant effects of bright light exposure on sleep architecture, leading to sleep pressure related changes in objective sleep quality. At the end of the scheduled sleep phase after increased light exposure, more delta power and NREM sleep were detected, especially when sleep occurred outside the normal sleep phase. Subjective sleep quality scores showed light-induced improvements coinciding with increased delta power and time spend in NREM sleep, suggesting that light during wakefulness may improve subsequent sleep quality. These findings may have important implications for insomnia treatment and clinical applications of light therapy. Support (if any) This research was funded by the University of Groningen Campus Fryslân (Grant No. 01110939; co-financed by Philips Drachten and Provincie Fryslân). Additional financial support was obtained from a NWO-STW Program Grant “OnTime” (project 12185).