SEATTLE — Scientists at the University of Washington say they've discovered a better way to manage our circadian rhythms by capturing the unique colors of the rising and setting sun.
They developed a light that emphasizes the same color wavelengths that are associated with sunrises and sunsets, which could effectively cue our internal biological clocks to wake up and fall asleep.
In a nutshell, better sleep.
"If you want to make sure your clock set is right, a really good way would be to go up and see the sun rise every morning. But here in Seattle, for many reasons, it's not possible," said Jay Neitz, a professor at UW Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology.
Neitz, alongside James Kuchenbecker, a research assistant professor of ophthalmology at UW Medicine, found alternating wavelengths of blue and orange — the kind of light we see during sunrises and sunsets — does a superior job of managing our circadian rhythms by advancing melatonin levels, the hormone that helps us fall asleep.
Their findings were published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms in July.
Kuchenbecker and Neitz developed an LED light that emulates the alternating colors of a sunrise, though to the naked eye, the light bulb shines a soft, white light.
"If you look at it very closely, you will see that it is not a standard white light. It is doing something extra," said Kuchenbecker, the lead author of the study.
Indeed, a closer look at the light system shows alternating colors.
"You can maybe see it a little bit, but if we slowed it down, you can actually see that it goes blue orange, blue orange," Neitz said.
Their research found the "cone photoreceptors" in our retina, are extra sensitive to alternating blue-orange colors and more effective in resetting melatonin levels, compared to just blue wavelength light that is absorbed by a photopigment in our eyes, known as melanopsin.
They found a way to emulate the blue and orange wavelengths with their specially designed light that they claim works better than other light therapy lamps that emit only the short blue wavelengths, or are very bright.
"It's true, if you get a light that's really super bright, and you sit in front of it in 20 minutes, it will affect your circadian rhythm," Neitz said.
But the researchers say their light with the orange and blue wavelengths have a softer glow and are just as effective, if not more, for resetting melatonin production.
"This is one that is actually a practical light that people an buy, they can use it in their houses," Neitz said.
Their study showed participants who were exposed to the alternating blue and orange LED induced the best melatonin production phase, compared to exposure to an only-blue wavelength light, and a white light of 500 lux.
The light is currently on market and is made and sold by the Chicago-based company, TUO.
"The discovery that we might be able to get these color signals and how we're seeing the sunrise, through that pathway, and get it to reset our internal clock, was a fantastical and phenomenal discovery. We're very excited by it," Kuchenbecker said.
