Effect of bright light therapy on delayed sleep/wake cycle and reaction time of athletes participating in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil – Rosa, J.P., Silva, A. Rodrigues, F., et al., (2018)

Method

The effect of using an artificial bright light on the entrainment of the sleep/wake cycle as well as the reaction times of athletes before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.  A total of 22 athletes from the Brazilian Olympic Swimming Team were evaluated, with the aim of preparing them to compete at a time when they would normally be about to go to bed for the night.

Conclusion

The use of bright light therapy treatment delayed the sleep/wake cycles and improved reaction times and was shown to be effective in modulating the sleep/wake cycles of athletes performing in competitions taking place late at night.