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As humans spend more time indoors, we lose access to the natural benefits of the sun. Recognition of seasonal affective disorder has increased accordingly. While the actual incidence of this condition is low (about 5% – or 10 million or so Americans), there is growing awareness of the sun’s effect on serotonin production in the brain – and the resulting effects on the human body.
Light therapy lamps have become increasingly popular as a result. I bought one some time ago. It is large, cumbersome and emits a bright light like a tanning lamp. These products rely on the visible light spectrum to mimic the effects of the sun for those of us who spend more of our waking hours in front of computers than we care.
Recently, the use of the “near-infrared” (NIR) segment of the light spectrum has been growing in popularity as a possible alternative to visible light. As the name suggests, this segment sits between infrared and visible light, at approximately 600 and 1000 nanometers. According to the National Institutes of Health, “Low-level light therapy in the far-red (FR) to near-infrared (NIR) range of the spectrum, collectively called photobiomodulation (PBM), has gained popularity worldwide in recent years. “has attracted attention in the U.S. as innovative tools for experimental therapeutic applications in various clinical conditions.”
At MWC this weekend, a Dutch company called Seaboro (given the lack of sunlight during the Netherlands’ winter) demonstrated small devices designed to replace larger SAD lamps. One sits next to the computer and the other clips onto a display above, resembling an external webcam. Both plug into a USB port for power.
Unfortunately, the devices are a proof of concept. The company told me it is currently looking for partnerships to license the technology. I shot the main image with an iPhone, which is capable of capturing NIR, which is why you see that purple-red glow. You may also notice glare coming from the surrounding bezels. Ideally, Seaboro would eventually like to build this into laptops themselves, although third-party accessories seem far more likely. Hey, why wasn’t it built into a real webcam?
As someone who has struggled with depression quite a bit over the years, I’d definitely be willing to get checked out. Of course, this stuff is really hard to review, because you have to take into account the potential placebo effect. However, I will say that some research has been done on the matter. Take it from a paper published a decade ago, “The results showed that PBM treatment at only 6.5 J·cm−2 led to consistent positive benefits on well-being and health, notably improving mood, reducing drowsiness, “Reducing IFN-γ, and resting heart rate.”
The research said the impact was only experienced in the winter months. It also had no significant effect on the participants’ circadian rhythm. That said, it’s probably still safe to suggest that the jury is still out on a lot of these things.
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