Should I lower the brightness on my phone at night?
Causal claim: When people use their phone or laptop in bed before falling asleep, blue light from the phone causes them to have trouble falling asleep. You can avoid this outcome by switching your phone to “night mode” or “night shift”, so that the phone screen emits much less blue light.
Read the following two articles.
Newsom and Singh:
Reynolds:
In a maximum of 400 words, answer all of the following questions.
- Do Newsom and Singh accept the causal claim above? Does Reynolds? Who do you think is right? Explain why.
- Does Reynolds think that exposure to bright light has some effect on sleep?
- Using the terminology that we used in class, describe an experiment that you would design to test whether blue light from phones does cause people to have trouble falling asleep.
Analysis of Causal Claims on Blue Light and Sleep
1) Acceptance of the Causal Claim
Newsom and Singh: The article from the Sleep Foundation accepts the causal claim that blue light from phones and laptops can affect sleep. They discuss the mechanisms by which blue light influences the circadian rhythm and melatonin production, suggesting that blue light exposure before bed can indeed make it harder to fall asleep. The article supports this with scientific evidence linking blue light to sleep disturbances.
Reynolds: In contrast, Reynolds argues that the effect of blue light on sleep might be overstated. According to Reynolds, while blue light can influence sleep onset, its impact is relatively minimal. The article cites studies suggesting that the actual delay in sleep onset caused by blue light exposure is only about 2.7 minutes, which may not be significant in practical terms. Reynolds implies that other factors, such as individual differences and overall sleep hygiene, might play a more substantial role.
Which View is Correct?: Both perspectives have merit, but the weight of scientific evidence leans towards Newsom and Singh’s position. Numerous studies support the idea that blue light can disrupt circadian rhythms and melatonin production, leading to difficulties in falling asleep. However, Reynolds’ point that the effect might be minor suggests that while blue light has some impact, it is one of several factors influencing sleep. It is important to consider the cumulative effect of blue light exposure along with other sleep hygiene practices.
2) Reynolds’ View on Bright Light and Sleep
Reynolds acknowledges that exposure to bright light, including blue light, can have an effect on sleep. The article indicates that while the impact of blue light might be relatively small, bright light exposure generally does affect circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. Reynolds suggests that the influence is more complex and nuanced than a simple causal relationship between blue light and sleep delay.
3) Experimental Design to Test the Effect of Blue Light on Sleep
Experiment Title: The Impact of Blue Light Exposure from Phones on Sleep Onset
Hypothesis: Exposure to blue light from phones before bedtime delays the time it takes to fall asleep compared to using phones with a night mode or no phone exposure.
Participants: 60 adult volunteers with regular sleep patterns, divided into three groups of 20 participants each.