The Biology behind light and the body
It is
estimated that at any time of your sunrise and dawn last from 4 am to 5 am,
while sunset and dusk occur from 6p.m to 7p.m. Circadian
Rhythm is the schedule by which our babies operate throughout different periods
of time. Changes to this circadian rhythm
occur during adolescence when most teens experience a sleep
phase delay. This shift in teens' circadian rhythm causes them to naturally
feel alert later at night, making it difficult for them to fall asleep before
11:00 pm. Since most teens have early school
start times along
with other commitments, this sleep phase delay can make it difficult to get the
sleep teens need -- an average of 9 1/4 hours, but at least 8 hours. This sleep
deprivation can influence the circadian rhythm for teens.
It should be noted that food, temperature and
light affect the SCN more that other stimuli. In terms of light, wavelength of
460-500 nm( blue and green light) regulate circadian responses in humans.
Because the sun is rays in the morning reach Earth's surface within this range
of the wavelength, the blue light begins mammal's circadian rhythms for the
day, for example, by walking them up and energizing them.
Within the light particles chromophase is part of
the molecule responsible for light's characteristic. Within body, melanopsin is
a photosensitive retinal Ganglion cells, more specifically. In generally, the
passage of lights occur in process: Circadian lights => retinal =>SCN
=>Hormones
Due to blue light's effects on the body, it is
crucial that blue light is not present in the evening, so that diurnal mammals do not wake up more before they should
be preparing to sleep. A major reason for this is because blue light is crucial
to the oscillation in number of human( or other mammals) hormones.
Effect of Discruptions to the Circadian Cycle
Circadian
Rhythm Disruption (CRD) any time that our normal 25-hour circadian rhythm is altered
or interrupted, it will have physiological and behavioral impacts. This is
better known as circadian rhythm disruption, or CRD.
Normal circadian rhythms
are naturally altered as one ages including changes in sleep pattern with
respect to earlier onset of sleepiness, early-morning awakenings, and increased
need for daytime napping. Sleep Disorders and CRD Several chronic sleep
disorders can lead or contribute to circadian rhythm disruptions, including: Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. This disorder
causes a delay in the normal sleep onset time by two or more hours. People
affected by this disorder complain of late-evening insomnia and/or excessive
early-morning sleepiness, have difficulties falling asleep before 2:00 a.m.,
have short sleep periods during weekdays, and prolonged (9-12 hours) sleep
periods during the weekends.
These individuals tend to experience depression
and other psychiatric disorders. Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome. This is a
disorder where sleepiness occurs well before the desired sleep schedule. The
resulting symptoms include evening sleepiness, an early sleep onset, and an
morning awakening that is earlier than desired. A person feels the urge to go
to sleep between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. and wakes up between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. the
following morning. This disorder can have a negative impact on an individual’s
personal or social life because of the need to leave early-evening social
activities to sleep. Evening sleepiness may also represent a driving hazard. Non
24-Hour SleepWake Disorder.
This disorder is the result of an inadvertent delay
of the sleep onset time, followed by unsuccessful attempts to sleep at the
desired sleep schedule. People affected by this disorder constantly delay sleep
onset times that interfere with circadian rhythms. They have a normal sleep
duration pattern but live in a free running “biological clock” of 25 hours
instead of the community-accepted 24-hour clock. The sleep cycle is affected by
inconsistent insomnia that occurs at different times. Those affected will
sometimes fall asleep at a later time and wake up later; or fall asleep at an
earlier time and wake up earlier. Even if you do not have a chronic sleep
disorder, there are several measures that can help you get a good night’s
sleep. Among these are: Mental or
physical relaxation techniques (reading, meditation, yoga). If you don’t fall asleep
within 30 minutes of going to bed, get out of bed and try an activity that
helps induce sleep such as reading, listening to relaxing music, watching
something boring on TV, etc. Ensure you
are in an environment conducive to sleeping (dark, quiet, comfortable
temperature and mattress). Exercise regularly, but not too near bedtime. •A
nutritious, balanced diet.
Treatment of Circadian-Related Conditions
Treatment of SAD in individuals was attempted
with fluorescent. Treatment of SAD takes 4-5 days. it's so long as treatment is
continuous through. Also, treatment is continuous after the condition remedied
to maintain emotional and physical stability. Besides, Circadian rhythm disturbances respond
very well when using blue LED because a higher intensity of light (wavelength
between range 460-500 mm) is often necessary to accomplish acute phase shifts.
Here are the technical details of LED strips that we will use for the project:
- 16.5mm (0.65") wide, 4mm (0.16") thick with casing on, 62.5mm (2.45") long per segment
- 32 LEDs per meter
- Removable IP65 weatherproof casing
- Maximum 5V @ 120mA draw per 2.5" strip segment (all LEDs on full brightness)
- 5VDC power requirement (do not exceed 6VDC) - no polarity protection
- 2 common-anode RGB LEDs per segment, individually controllable
- LED wavelengths: 630nm/530nm/475nm
- Connector: 4-pin JST SM
Technical specs (older HL1606 type):
- 19mm (0.75") wide, 4.5mm (0.18") thick with casing on, 62.5mm (2.45") long per segment
- 32 LEDs per meter
- Removable IP65 weatherproof casing
- Maximum 5V @ 120mA draw per 2.5" strip segment (all LEDs on full brightness)
- 5VDC power requirement (do not exceed 6VDC) - no polarity protection
- 2 common-anode RGB LEDs per segment, individually controllable
- LED wavelengths: 630nm/530nm/475nm
- HL1606 LED controller chip with 'SPI'-like protocol (Chinese Datasheet) We also have a link to the english datasheet but since the pinout is incorrect we don't know how trustworthy it is. YMMV
How the LED strip can connect with the power and Raspberry Pi. Here is the diagram of that:
Here is the matrix of power assessment:
% Weight
|
25%
|
10%
|
20%
|
5%
|
15%
|
10%
|
15%
|
Qualifications
|
Energy Cost
|
Cost of Installation
|
Dynamic Color Match
|
Ease of Use
|
Health Benefits
|
Universal Use
|
Home Renovations Needed
|
1.Solar Set Window
|
9/10
|
8/10
|
10/10
|
9/10
|
10/10
|
10/10
|
10/10
|
2.Philips Wake Up Light
|
8/10
|
6/10
|
5/10
|
7/10
|
6/10
|
2/10
|
10/10
|
3.Light Therapy
|
6/10
|
10/10
|
0/10
|
3/10
|
8/10
|
0/10
|
10/10
|
4.Compact Fluorescent (CFL)
|
8/10
|
6/10
|
0/10
|
10/10
|
2/10
|
8/10
|
10/10
|
5.Incandescent Light Bulb
|
3/10
|
8/10
|
0/10
|
10/10
|
2/10
|
10/10
|
10/10
|
6.f.lux (computer program)
|
10/10
|
10/10
|
6/10
|
10/10
|
5/10
|
10/10
|
10/10
|
7.Install Large Windows
|
10/10
|
3/10
|
0/10
|
10/10
|
7/10
|
3/10
|
2/10
|
8.Hang Strategic Mirrors
|
10/10
|
6/10
|
0/10
|
10/10
|
7/10
|
5/10
|
10/10
|
9.Installing Skylights
|
10/10
|
2/10
|
0/10
|
10/10
|
7/10
|
2/10
|
0/10
|
After analyzing all the solutions, we derived a following result for each of them:
- 95%
- 65%
- 53.5%
- 57%
- 48.5%
- 84.5%
- 49.5%
- 53%
Works Cited
DrisColl, S. (2013,January 1). LED Strips and RGB Software. Retrieved from
https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-spectrum-analyzer-display-on-rgb-led-strip/led-strip-and-rgb-
led-software.
Circadian Rhythms Fact Sheet.National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Retrieved
from http://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/pages/factsheet_circadianrhythms.aspx.
Miranda, H. How light Therapy Works in the Body. Retrieved
from http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20051108/how-light-therapy-works-in-body.