Describe the symptoms and treatments for common sleep disorders
Please read the following abstract from the peer-reviewed journal article “Self-luminous devices and melatonin suppression in adolescents” (Figueiro & Overington, 2016)[1]:
Self-luminous devices, such as computers, tablets and cell phones can emit short-wavelength (blue) light, which maximally suppresses melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that starts rising approximately 2 hours prior to natural bedtimes and signals darkness and sleep to the body. The present study extends from previously published studies showing that light from self-luminous devices suppresses melatonin and delays sleep. This is the first study conducted in the home environment that investigated the effects of self-luminous devices on melatonin levels in adolescents (age 15–17 years). Results show that 1-hour and 2-hour exposure to light from self-luminous devices significantly suppressed melatonin by approximately 23% and 38% respectively. Compared to our previous studies, these results suggest that adolescents may be more sensitive to light than other populations.
How would you summarize the abstract above?
The research study found that exposure to light from devices like computers and cell phones significantly lowered melatonin levels in adolescents aged 15-17. If they looked at screens for an hour, melatonin levels dropped by around 23% and if they looked at screens for two hours they were 38% lower. This suggests that adolescents may be more sensitive to light from screens and it may negatively impact their sleep.
A friend of yours tells you that she watches movies on her laptop every night before bed in order to “help her fall asleep.” Use evidence collected in this study to create an argument for your friend about why her strategy for falling asleep might be counter-productive.
That’s probably not a good idea, because the light from your laptop may actually make it harder for you to sleep. Melatonin is a hormone that starts rising prior to natural bedtimes and begins to prepare the body for sleep. The short-wavelength (blue) light emitted by computers, tablets and cell phones has been shown to suppress melatonin production and delay the onset of sleep. A better strategy for falling asleep would involve establishing a regular bedtime, and avoiding screen use for at least an hour or two before going to bed.
Since the advent of electricity, the amount of sleep people get has declined. Why do you think this might be the case? What effects might this have on us and our society?
Sample Answer: Because of artificial lighting, we are more active during the nighttime hours than our ancestors were. Also, because our biological clock is driven by light, exposure to bright light at night can result in disruptions to our circadian rhythms and melatonin production. Sleeping less than 7-8 hours a night can lead adults to accrue a sleep debt. Insufficient sleep can result in decreased mental alertness, decreased cognitive function, depression-like symptoms, and is associated with obesity, increased blood pressure, increased levels of stress hormones, and reduced immune functioning.
Figueiro, M., & Overington, D. (2016). Self-luminous devices and melatonin suppression in adolescents. Lighting Research & Technology, 48(8), 966-975. ↵