The Science:
Real Research. Real Results.
The Question:
Can Light Ease Stress?
Using a Trier social stress test, the Color Lab, an UC Davis interdisciplinary research team formed between the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) and the Center for Mind and Brain (CMB), wanted to study how people recover from stress under specific lighting conditions.
The Experiment:
Stress, then Light
Following a public speaking task and a math problem, each of the 130+ subjects were brought to a room flushed with white, amber, green, blue, or red lighting. Using an EEG (electroencephalogram), the Color Lab monitored each participant’s brainwaves and levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol.
The Results.
Amber light boosts recovery by 70% compared to standard white LED light and other LED color lights
The Color Lab Uncovers the Soothing Effects of Light