The investigators are examining whether the content of a visual scene impacts the antidepressant effects of light or if this impact is solely mediated by the intensity of the light.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
20
Participants will be exposed to 15 minutes of each arm. They will be exposed twice and a randomized order (1/2/1/2 or 2/1/2/1)
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Palo Alto, California, United States
Change in mood
Change in subjective mood as recored by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The PANAS ranges 10-50 on a positive mood scale (higher = more positive) and 10-50 on a negative mood scale (higher = more negative)
Time frame: 15 minutes
Change in fast brain electrical activity
Change in the beta power spectrum (12.5-30 Hz) of the electroencephalogram (brain waves, measured in microvolts)
Time frame: 15 minutes
Change in systolic blood pressure (SBP)
Change in SBP (mm Hg) as measured by finger plethysmography
Time frame: 15 minutes
Change in heart rate variability (HRV)
Shift in the ratio of the power of low frequency to high frequency components in heart rate variability
Time frame: 15 minutes
Change in sympathetic activity
Sympathetic activity will be imputed through the galvanic skin response (GSR). Change in skin conductance (the electrical activity on the skin) will be measured in microsiemens
Time frame: 15 minutes
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