Night owls sleep better after light therapy in the mornings

It is possible to adjust the internal clocks of night owls by exposing them to blue light every morning for 30 minutes. This is one of the conclusions of Moniek Geerdink, who will be awarded a PhD by the University of Groningen on Friday 29 September.

‘By adjusting their internal clocks to an earlier time, the sleep patterns of night owls can be better attuned to normal office hours. Night owls can then get more sleep before the alarm clock goes off in the morning. Exposure to blue light also makes them feel more alert in the morning,’ says Geerdink.

More information

• Contact: Moniek Geerdink, via the Communication Office

• See also the extended summary of the PhD thesis In search of light therapy to optimize the internal clock, performance and sleep

• There is also a video about Geerdink’s research: What effect does light have on sleep?