Study Links Brighter Daytime Light Exposure to Earlier Sleep Onset

Researchers at the University of Manchester drew on more than 500 days of data from 89 adults wearing light sensors and sleep trackers while keeping daily diaries to examine links between daytime light and sleep patterns. The analysis, published in NPJ Biological Timing and Sleep, showed that greater exposure to brighter daylight correlated with earlier bedtimes and wake times.

Participants who spent more time in brighter daylight generally fell asleep and woke up earlier than those with less light exposure.

Those with more consistent daytime light exposure also experienced healthier sleep timing and more deep sleep early in the night, Fox News reported. The study recorded an association between daytime light exposure and sleep patterns but did not prove causation.

Light exposure was measured using wrist-worn devices rather than at the eyes, and the research did not account for factors such as physical activity or meal timing.

Martin, a clinical psychologist and professor at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine who was not involved in the study, said the findings align with existing knowledge about light and the body's internal clock. "Light impacts human sleep through a specific pathway, starting with the eye," Martin told Fox News Digital.

Martin recommended spending time outdoors early in the day, avoiding bright light during the last couple of hours before bedtime and maintaining a consistent wake-up time each morning.

She added that adults should aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night and seek help from a sleep specialist if sleep problems become chronic. Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.