“The light from Re-Timer stimulates the part of the brain responsible for
regulating the 24-hour body clock,” said Prof Leon Lack, its chief inventor.
“Using a light device allows you to transition your body clock to a new time
zone in small steps.
“This eliminates the sudden change people experience after flying and reduces
the symptoms of jet lag.”
Prof Lack, from the university’s school of psychology, said the device’s light
exposure helps change the behaviour of a gland at the base of the brain,
which controls the body clock.
Extensive research has shown that green light is one of the most effective
wavelengths for influencing the body clock.
The battery-powered device, which retail for £162 in Britain, then sends
signals that trigger the production of hormones and daily cycles known as
circadian rhythms.
“Body clocks or circadian rhythms influence the timing of all our
sleeping and waking patterns, alertness, performance levels and metabolism,”
he said.
“Photoreceptors in our eyes detect sunlight, signal our brain to be awake and
alert, and set our rhythms accordingly.
“These rhythms vary regularly over a 24-hour cycle. However, this process is
often impaired by staying indoors, travelling to other time zones, working
irregular hours, or a lack of sunlight during winter months.”
For those people who want to sleep peaceful but wake earlier they should wear
it for 50 minutes in the morning for three days, while those who a lie in
need to wear it for the same time before bed to delay the body clock.
The device, which is powered by an inbuilt rechargeable battery, can also be
worn as sunglasses during daily tasks such as reading or using a computer.
“The glasses have been designed to be user friendly and comfortable to
wear so people can go about their normal activities wearing them at work or
at home,” he said, adding they had been designed based on 25 years of
university research.
It is estimated that up to 94 per cent of long-haul travellers suffer from jet
lag because the body becomes confused to travelling through different time
zones.
It uses the outside world as an indication whether it should be awake or
asleep such as light, silence or noise.
Airlines are said to be seeking a “silver bullet” for the tiredness and
confusion that often follow a long-haul flight and are in discussions to buy
the device.
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