By Ilma Khan
Published 9:58 EST, Tues November 30th, 2021
Introduction
Dealing with trauma has negative changes and effects on our health such as sleep deprivation and loss of brain function. This article allows us to visualize the use of wavelengths to recover brain structure and brain function. A variety of assessments such as an MRI, PVT, and DTI were completed on different participants who have gone through mild traumatic brain injury, to see if they were eligible to be part of the experiment. The experiment lasted seven weeks, participants took three laboratory visits, which included two full-day neurocognitive assessments plus neuroimaging scans. After the assessment process, the participants were randomly assigned to complete a 6-week at-home light treatment procedure with either daily blue or amber light therapy each morning. Keeping in mind that this experiment was a randomized and double-blind trial participant was not educated that there were two different colors of lights. Plus all of the trial staff that had direct contact with participants were blind to the color of the light device assigned to each participant. By using two colors of wavelength light, a placebo, and by not allowing the participants to know about the two different light colors, a blind trial, this trial gave us more unbiased and promising results. After concluding the experiment the researchers found that daily exposure to morning blue-wavelength light offers an effective technique for recovering the circadian system and progressing recovery among individuals with a recent mTBI. The 6-week trial helped us find out that 30-min of morning blue-wavelength light was more effective than amber-wavelength light. The signs of progress and advances they saw in the participants include reducing subjective and objective sleepiness and improving cognitive performance among participants recovering from mTBI.
General Analysis
This research paper was indulged with tons of information and detail. The researchers didn’t miss anything out, they told their audience every little detail, every little variable that played a role in the journey of completing this experiment. This paper was a good read for our club because it took wavelengths into a scientific perspective, changing our perspectives and allowing us to look at many different things from a scientific point of view. It allowed us as readers to see everything that goes into conducting research and experiment. From starting with one person’s thought process and background research to the number of participants who completed the trial. The diagrams and graphs displayed in this article allow for a deeper understanding of how the experiment was conducted, and the detailed descriptions allowed us to visualize the comparison between the participants with blue wavelength light vs. the participants with amber wavelength light. In today’s society trauma is a very major thing, things such as PTSD and mTBI are very common. From concussions to plane crashes, people have traumatic experiences that they need to live with, they need to deal with it. These moments will always live in their brain, make them feel as if they are crumbling from inside. If we can even do one little thing to help them such as sit in blue wavelength light for 30 minutes a day, it will make a difference. Bringing awareness and finding little subtle ways to help can make someone’s quality of life better. This research does exactly that, it brings awareness to these topics and discovers a way to help people with mild traumatic brain injuries. Little things can lead to big things, we do not know what the future holds for us and PTSD patients.
Evaluation of Methods Used
The methods and system of techniques used in this experiment are effective and efficient. They begin and set off our journey into finding new and different ways to help traumatized patients. The methods used in this paper allow us to have a clear visualization of every step of the experiment plus the differences between the blue light results and amber light results. This can be used to solve other problems by allowing us to question and research the effects of blue light wavelength on other different diseases and injuries. The methods and techniques used in this trial can be used to solve future problems by allowing us to use all of the steps and procedures in this experiment towards other trials. It can be used as an example or template for future experiments and the results can come in handy to future researchers. In this trial, the researchers answered the question they were asking themselves in a simpler form, is blue wavelength light more effective in recovering brain function or amber wavelength light? According to the results, blue wavelength light shows more effective outcomes on patients with mild trauma over amber wavelength light. After looking at all the steps of the experiment as well as the conclusion and results, the researchers completely answered and solved their problem. The methods they used to showcase the experiment and results, as well as the methods used to conduct the experiments, played a role in solving the entire problem, helping showcase which wavelength light is better and why it is more effective.
Audience
One concern that would arise through the trial and experiment would be the small number of participants (32 adults). Finding patients with trauma is easy in today’s society but putting different requirements on the type of trauma and when it occurred makes it hard to find participants for the trial, who are willingly wanting to participate. However, to genuinely display the effectiveness of blue wavelength vs. amber wavelength more participants are needed to further demonstrate and prove their methods. Another concern that can arise from this experiment would be the variables used by patients at home by themselves. What if they are not using the light correctly, or positioning it right, or changing the time it is being used? All the little details play a role and can affect the results and data we receive, changing the conclusion and solution. I do not think this article was published in the right journal for the right audience. This journal focuses on the study of the biology of the nervous system, whereas the journal talks more about trauma and the brain which isn’t as closely related to the topic of the journal. Considering mTBI, it is not a disease, it is an injury. It is very common in the U.S at almost 3 million U.S cases per year. This journal, on the other hand, focuses on the nervous system and its diseases. Trauma affects the nervous system but finding the right audience for this paper would be difficult through this journal.
Problems and Admirations
Methods and techniques I enjoyed and admired in this paper would include the amount of information and the depth of the paper. Understanding every step the researchers took to experiment was easier compared to other papers I have read. The variety of assessments completed to find the correct batch of participants displayed the effort the researchers put into the trial to make everything go smoothly. Through the use of a placebo and blind trial, the results show a guarantee that it was unbiased. The graphs and diagrams used throughout the paper allowed for a deeper look into the trial and its components. Another thing I appreciated in this article was the extensive comparison displayed between the patients who received the amber light placebo vs. the patients who received blue wavelength light. The future is a mystery, what the future holds for us is a mystery but we know that unique advances will be made and innovations and techniques will be created. After the publication of this research people will put more awareness on traumatized patients and look at the little things that help their daily lives. People will start doing the little things that help such as sitting under blue wavelength light for 30 minutes to find a little relief and get a good sleep. After this paper is published future researchers will conduct more research to verify and add
on to this conclusion.
Ilma Khan, Youth Medical Journal 2021
References
“A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Blue Wavelength Light Exposure on Sleep and Recovery of Brain Structure, Function, and Cognition Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury – ScienceDirect.” ScienceDirect.Com | Science, Health and Medical Journals, Full Text Articles and Books., https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996119303547?via=ihub. Accessed 5 Aug. 2021.
Youth Medical Journal 