Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(02): 101-106
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1389970
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effects of Evening Bright Light Exposure on Subsequent Morning Exercise Performance

A. Thompson
1   Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
2   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
H. Jones
2   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
E. Marqueze
3   School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
W. Gregson
2   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
G. Atkinson
4   Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 01 August 2014

Publication Date:
06 October 2014 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

We investigated the effects of evening bright light on the circadian timing of core temperature and morning exercise performance under conditions of high thermal stress. At 20:00 h, 8 males were exposed to a standardised light protocol and thereafter to either polychromatic bright light (2 500 lux at 50 cm, BL) or no light (0 lux, NL) for 30 min. The following morning, intermittent cycling exercise was undertaken followed by a 10 km time-trial in an environmental chamber set to 35°C and 60% relative humidity. Core body temperature was measured throughout. Data were analysed using a within-subjects model and presented as mean±SD. Time of the sleep-trough in core temperature occurred ~1.75 h later following BL (P=0.07). Prior to time-trial, core temperature was 0.27±0.42°C lower in BL (95%CI: −0.02 to 0.57, P=0.07). The time-trial was completed 1.43±0.63 min (0.98–1.87) faster in BL (P=0.001). Post time-trial, intestinal temperature was 38.21±0.56°C (37.84–38.57) in BL compared to 38.64±0.42°C (38.34–38.93) in NL (P=0.10). These data provide the first evidence that a 30-min exposure to bright light prior to sleep can influence exercise performance under hot conditions during the subsequent early morning.

Key words

circadian rhythms - thermoregulation - melatonin - performance - pre-cooling
 

  • References

  • 1 Atkinson G, Barr D, Chester N, Drust B, Gregson W, Reilly T, Waterhouse J. Bright light and thermoregulatory responses to exercise. Int J Sports Med 2008; 29: 188-193
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Atkinson G, Holder A, Robertson C, Gant N, Drust B, Reilly T, Waterhouse J. Effects of melatonin on the thermoregulatory responses to intermittent exercise. J Pineal Res 2005; 39: 353-359
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Atkinson G, Nevill AM. Selected issues in the design and analysis of sport performance research. J Sports Sci 2001; 19: 811-827
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Ballinger GA. Using generalized estimating equations for longitudinal data analysis. Organ Res Methods 2004; 7: 127-150
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Batterham AM, Hopkins WG. Making meaningful inferences about magnitudes. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2006; 1: 50-57
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Benloucif S, Burgess HJ, Klerman EB, Lewy AJ, Middleton B, Murphy PJ, Parry BL, Revell VL. Measuring melatonin in humans. J Clin Sleep Med 2008; 4: 66-69
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Booth J, Marino F, Ward JJ. Improved running performance in hot humid conditions following whole body precooling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29: 943-949
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Borg GAV. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1982; 14: 377-381
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Burgess HJ, Fogg LF. Individual differences in the amount and timing of salivary melatonin secretion. PLoS One 2008; 3: e3055
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Cagnacci A, Elliott JA, Yen SS. Melatonin: a major regulator of the circadian rhythm of core temperature in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992; 75: 447-452
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Cajochen C, Jud C, Münch M, Kobialka S, Wirz-Justice A, Albrecht U. Evening exposure to blue light stimulates the expression of the clock gene PER2 in humans. Eur J Neurosci 2006; 23: 1082-1086
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Cajochen C, Münch M, Kobialka S, Krauchi K, Steiner R, Oelhafen P, Orgul S, Wirz-Justice A. High sensitivity of human melatonin, alertness, thermoregulation, and heart rate to short wavelength light. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90: 1311-1316
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Cotter JD, Sleivert GG, Roberts WS, Febbraio MA. Effect of pre-cooling, with and without thigh cooling, on strain and endurance exercise performance in the heat. Comp Biochem Physiol 2001; 128: 667-677
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Deacon S, Arendt J. Posture influences melatonin concentrations in plasma and saliva in humans. Neurosci Lett 1994; 167: 191-194
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Duffy JF, Czeisler CA. Effect of light on human circadian physiology. Sleep Med Clin 2009; 4: 165-177
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Gonzalez-Alonso J, Teller C, Andersen SL, Jensen FB, Hyldig T, Nielsen B. Influence of body temperature on the development of fatigue during prolonged exercise in the heat. J Appl Physiol 1999; 86: 1032-1039
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Hagan RD, Diaz FJ, Horvath SM. Plasma volume changes with movement to supine and standing positions. J Appl Physiol 1978; 45: 414-417
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Hargreaves M. Physiological limits to exercise performance in the heat. J Sci Med Sport 2008; 11: 66-71
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2014 update. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 1025-1028
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Hobson RM, Clapp EL, Watson P, Maughan RJ. Exercise capacity in the heat is greater in the morning than in the evening in man. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 174-180
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Jay O, Kenny GP. Current evidence does not support an anticipatory regulation of exercise intensity mediated by rate of body heat storage. J Appl Physiol 2009; 107: 630-631
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Krauchi K, Cajochen C, Danilenko KV, Wirz-Justice A. The hypothermic effect of late evening melatonin does not block the phase delay induced by concurrent bright light in human subjects. Neurosci Lett 1997; 232: 57-61
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Kubota T, Uchiyama M, Suzuki H, Shibui K, Kim K, Tan X, Tagaya H, Okawa M, Inoue S. Effects of nocturnal bright light on saliva melatonin, core body temperature and sleep propensity rhythms in human subjects. Neurosci Res 2002; 42: 115-122
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Lee DT, Haymes EM. Exercise duration and thermoregulatory responses after whole body precooling. J Appl Physiol 1995; 79: 1971-1976
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Minors DS, Waterhouse JM, Wirz-Justice A. A human phase-response curve to light. Neurosci Lett 1991; 133: 36-40
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Nathan PJ, Jeyaseelan AS, Burrows GO, Norman TR. Modulation of plasma melatonin concentrations by changes in posture. J Pineal Res 1998; 24: 219-223
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Nybo L. Brain temperature and exercise performance. Exp Physiol 2012; 97: 333-339
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 O’Brien PM, O’Connor PJ. Effect of bright light on cycling performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 439-447
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Ramanathan NL. A new weighting system for mean surface temperature of the human body. J Appl Physiol 1964; 19: 531-533
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Reilly T, Waterhouse J. Sports performance: is there evidence that the body clock plays a role?. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 106: 321-332
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Schlader ZJ, Stannard SR, Mundel T. Human thermoregulatory behavior during rest and exercise – a prospective review. Physiol Behav 2010; 99: 269-275
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Tassi P, Muzet A. Sleep inertia. Sleep Med Rev 2000; 4: 341-353
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Wegmann M, Faude O, Poppendieck W, Hecksteden A, Frohlich M, Meyer T. Pre-Cooling and Sports Performance: A Meta-Analytical Review. Sports Med 2012; 42: 545-564
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar