Summary
In this episode of the Huberman Lab Podcast, Professor Andrew Huberman discusses the science and benefits of using light for optimizing health. Light energy moves in little waves and can cause reactions in cells of the body. Different wavelengths of light can penetrate tissues to different depths and target particular organelles within cells, stimulating their function. Light can impact our biology in various ways, with both rapid and slow effects. Melatonin, a hormone associated with darkness, has regulatory and protective effects on the body, and light powerfully inhibits melatonin. Exposure to UVB light can increase testosterone and estrogen levels in both men and women, as well as increase feelings of romantic passion and desire to mate. UVB light can also trigger pain-relieving pathways in the brain. Red light therapy is an effective treatment for wound healing, getting scars to disappear, and removing certain patches of pigmentation. Red light therapy can also improve visual acuity and function, specifically addressing the function of the short wavelength cones. Additionally, red light at night is beneficial for shift workers, students, and caregivers, as it does not inhibit melatonin production or increase cortisol levels. Certain patterns of light flicker can induce gamma oscillations in the brain, which can reduce amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau associated with Alzheimer's and age-related cognitive decline.
