Blue light has a dark side.
Smartphones, computers and tablets produce a particular blue light. There is an increasing amount of evidence surrounding the negative impact upon sleep from this type of blue light. It has the effect of supressing melatonin production, which means that if these devices are used at night, the body’s natural sleep cycles are disrupted.
Sleep is crucial for enhancing the ability to learn and specifically for integrating long-term memories. Missing out on sleep can impact negatively upon attention span and short-term memory.
The QLD Brain Institute indicates in Series 2, Learning and Memory, that the teenage brain is particularly sensitive to blue light. This is the reason why professionals now recommend that teenagers should avoid
late-night use of devices that emanate blue light if they want to get enough sleep.
At Dunlea Centre, as part of our program’s structure, we discourage the use of technology in the bedrooms. Computers, tablets and smartphones can be used throughout the day and evening times as required. However, bedtime is regarded as the ideal period for winding down and aiming for good quality sleep without blue light technology interference.
Paul Mastronardi
Executive Director
Dunlea Centre
