Effects of moderately bright light on subjective evaluations in healthy elderly women

Eight healthy elderly women aged 56-72 years (mean age: 67.4 years) partici pated in this study. They were exposed to moderately bright light (1000 lux ) for Ih in the morning every 6 days in their homes. Moderately bright ligh t improved self evaluations for alertness, mood, motivation, happiness, ref reshment, concentration and appetite after the second exposure to the light . Sleep maintenance, anxiety and integrated sleep feeling also improved aft er the fourth exposure to the light. The phase of rectal temperature rhythm did not change in a moderately bright light condition. These results sugge st that bright light influences sleep quality and self evaluations without changing the biological rhythm phase.