Good idea, I'll start using my tactical red flashlight |
|
So you want to write down dreams in the middle of the night but bright light annoys you and wakes you up too much? I have the solution! |
|
Last edited by Mental; 03-17-2011 at 03:32 AM.
Good idea, I'll start using my tactical red flashlight |
|
If you would like to know the reason why the red light works, I can tell you. Personally, I find it fascinating. |
|
Thanks for the great explanation! |
|
Huh, this is really nifty! I'll have to look for a red party bulb when I go to the store next. I find I procrastinate on writing down my dreams when I wake and it's still dark because it's no fun fumbling for the booklight, and my lamp would blind me. |
|
"Often I will spin a tale, never will I charge a fee. I'll amuse you an entire eve, but, alas, you won't remember me. What am I?" - Sloth Demon, Dragon Age: Origins mage origin
[Dream Log @ Tumblr]
An incandescent or normal light bulb should work also because it contains mainly red and yellow light in the spectrum. Blue light is the one that arouses the day/night rhythm of the sleep state so if you use a fluorescent light which is rich in blue light spectrum it will upset your sleep cycle thinking it is daytime and gear up for wakefullness. |
|
Great idea Maybe now (IF I CAN wake up) I can finally write it down, because when i use normal lights I wont be able to get to sleep that easily anymore!! |
|
The circadian rhythm is affected somewhat as light is being detected by your melanopsin absorbing receptors in the eye. This is sent to the suprachiasmatic nucleus which controls your day/night patterning. Melanopsin can absorb light up to about 640nm, orange light (its peak abs is around 490nm which is blue). Granted, any light being detected by these receptors will be detrimental to sleep efficiency, a small amount of light being being detected will not fool your suprachiasmatic nucleus into believing that it is time to wake so the effects are somewhat negligible (there are several signals which it is integrating at all times to determine 'time'). There are many beautifully written papers about the circadian rhythm, pathways involved, and even genes involved if you are interested. |
|
I'm not sure about red light, but I know that your eyes don't need to adjust to green light, which is why they use green light in night vision technology. |
|
"The Lord's Prayer is 66 words, the Gettysburg Address is 286 words, and there are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence. Yet, government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words."
—David McIntosh
Actually, your eyes do require adjustment to green light. Your rods in your eyes (which are used during dimly lit situations) actually have maximum absorption with green light. The reason they use green light with night vision is that it allows your most sensitive cells in they eye (the rods) to see the images even if the light is too dim for your cones to perceive. However, with green light, your rods do need to adjust back to night vision which can take up 45 minutes for maximum adjustment. I am including a link to an image which shows why red does not effect night vision/rod vision which is required for night vision. |
|
Hello all! |
|
Manat, |
|
What exactly do you mean? Do you mean the kind of thing where construction workers need light, but don't have enough hands to hold a flashlight? (Suddenly picturing myself wearing a hardhat with a light on it ) |
|
Try one of these lighted pens used for nocturnal marine navigation - they need to be able to write in the log but not dazzle their eyes so they can still see the instruments. Pretty much the same situation as a dream journalist. |
|
Manat, |
|
Oh ok. Thanks! Now that I'm taking a look around, I suppose I could really find any old small light and paint it red. |
|
Bookmarks