The Impact of Light Exposure on Cognitive Function in Classrooms

Launched by MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · Mar 21, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how different types of light exposure in classrooms affect the thinking abilities and overall brain function of healthy college students. Researchers want to understand if wearing special light-enhanced glasses can improve focus and learning compared to not wearing them. The trial is currently recruiting participants who are undergraduate students at Michigan State University, aged 18 or older, and who typically go to bed between 9:30 PM and 2:00 AM. Participants need to be healthy and not sensitive to light, and they should be willing to report how tired they feel and take tests to measure their cognitive abilities.

If you decide to participate, you will either wear the light-enhanced glasses during classes or be part of a control group that does not wear them. Throughout the trial, you will help researchers gather information about your fatigue levels and cognitive performance. It's important to note that there are some exclusions, such as being under 18, having certain medical conditions, or taking specific medications that could affect your sensitivity to light. This study aims to gain insights that could help improve classroom environments for better learning experiences.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion criteria for wearing light glasses:
• • Current Michigan State University (MSU) Undergraduate Student
• • Are 18 years or older
• • Healthy subject without light sensitivity
• • Average bedtime 9:30 pm - 2:00 am, 6 out of 7 days a week
• • Willingness to measure and report fatigue levels
• • Willingness to participate in cognitive testing
• • Willingness to wear light-enriched glasses in the classroom
• Inclusion criteria for the control group (will not wear light glasses):
• • Current Michigan State University (MSU) Undergraduate Student
• • Are 18 years or older
• • Average bedtime 9:30 pm - 2:00 am, 6 out of 7 days a week
• • Willingness to measure and report fatigue levels
• • Willingness to participate in cognitive testing
• Inclusion criteria for the control group (will not wear light glasses):
• • Current Michigan State University (MSU) Undergraduate Student
• • Are 18 years or older
• • Average bedtime 9:30 pm - 2:00 am, 6 out of 7 days a week
• • Willingness to measure and report fatigue levels
• • Willingness to participate in cognitive testing
• Exclusion criteria for wearing light glasses:
• • Are younger than 18 years of age
• • Participation in shift work (evening/night shifts, early morning shifts, rotating shifts, etc.)
• • Pregnant women
• • Previous diagnosis of diabetes
• • Use of medication that would cause sensitivity to light (e.g., antidepressants, antibiotics,prescribed sleep medication, prescribed pain meds)
• • Epilepsy or a history of seizures
• • Photophobia - sensitivity or eye discomfort to bright light
• • Eye Diseases that limit the ability of light to be processed (e.g., untreated cataracts,severe glaucoma, macular degeneration, blindness, pupil dilation problems, or retinadamage)
• • Previous eye surgery
• • Previous head injuries (e.g., concussions)
• • Current chronic, severe headaches/migraines
• • Clinical insomniacs or those with diagnosed sleep disorders