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UC Davis lighting research now being harnessed to reduce stress
KCRA • • business
Key Points:
- Researchers at UC Davis California Lighting Technology Center are studying how different lighting colors affect stress and emotions, with applications in cars, hospitals, and homes.
- The study began with Toyota collaborating to test if interior lighting in autonomous vehicles could reduce passenger stress, using a stress-inducing experiment involving a speech under harsh lighting.
- Participants showed a preference for amber lighting, which helped reduce stress and promote calmness, likely because it mimics sunset and signals the body to relax.
- The research is being implemented in hospitals, such as UC Davis California Tower, where amber lighting aids patient navigation and safety at night, while nurse stations use tunable lighting to support different shift schedules.
- Experts recommend using cool white light during the day to boost alertness and transitioning to warm amber light in the evening at home to encourage relaxation and better sleep.
