Research Summaries

Back Effects of blue light blocking glasses and light emitting devices on circadian rhythm and operational performance in naval operations

Fiscal Year 2018
Division Graduate School of Operational & Information Sciences
Department Operations Research
Investigator(s) Shattuck, Nita L.
Sponsor Naval Medical Research Center (Navy)
Summary Based on almost two decades of empirical data from onboard studies of sleep among US Navy Sailors, the US Navy surface fleet recently received a directive from the Department of Navy to transition to circadian-based watch routines. This directive is a major step toward improving both individual and crew readiness and health. In order to obtain the maximal benefit of a fleet-wide circadian based watch routine, more knowledge is needed about how new technologies can to support the Sailor both on and off watch. When working evening or night shifts, Sailors need to maintain alertness – which can be very challenging when shifting from a day to night schedule. The proposed work will exploit the use of two separate technologies: one for suppressing HEV light exposure to assist in falling sleep while the other provides simulated daylight to entrain circadian rhythms for nighttime work. Not only is it important to study the results of the new technologies on sleep and health, it is also important to ensure that such technologies are practical for use in the operational environment.
Two studies will be conducted as part of this three-year effort. A pilot study will take place in the laboratory to allow better control and the possibility to study some parameters more in depth (e.g., salivary melatonin and specific changes in pupil size and blink duration) along with other aspects of usability. Wrist worn actigraphy will also be collected as an objective measure of sleep and accompanying measurements of melatonin. Following this pilot study, a field study will be conducted during underway shipboard operations with Sailors using various watch schedules. The operational study will focus on how effective the two technologies (light-blocking and light-emitting) are in facilitating circadian entrainment. Both studies will provide useful data to support the implementation of circadian-based watch schedules and will also provide information on how different activities onboard affect both readiness and crew endurance over time.
Keywords sleep deprivation Circadian watchbills Fatigue HEV light Human Performance
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Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal