1. Presented by: Devin Overington
THE EFFECT OF SELF-LUMINOUS DEVICES
ON MELATONIN LEVELS IN TEENS

2. INTRODUCTION
• New technologies in self-luminous devices increases the
amount of time that many people spend viewing these devices.
• Recent studies are beginning to look at the effects this may
have on our everyday lives.
• One of the most important is how self-luminous devices effect
Melatonin levels in the body.
Self-luminous- Possessing in itself the property of emitting light.
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
• Laboratory experiments have been done using personal
computers and tablets. (Figueiro et al. and Wood et al.)
• Tests have indicated that the level of
Melatonin suppression after a two hour
exposure to light is more statistically
significant than one hour only.
Melatonin- a vertebrate hormone that is derived from serotonin, is
secreted by the pineal gland especially in response to darkness,
and has been linked to the regulation of circadian rhythms.
Hypothesis Methods Results DiscussionIntroduction Conclusion

4. INTRODUCTION
Hypothesis Methods Results DiscussionIntroduction Conclusion
• Melatonin is suppressed when a person is exposed to light.

5. HYPOTHESIS
Using self-luminous devices for two hours in the evening
will suppress melatonin levels and inhibit sleep more
than evening activities that do not involve these devices.
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion

6. METHODS AND MATERIALS
• Dimesimeters to collect light data
• Melatonin saliva test to keep track of Melatonin suppression
• Form for the test subjects to fill out when they use a self-
luminous device
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion

7. METHODS AND MATERIALS
• There will be about 20 subjects tested.
• Subjects will be High School students, their ages will be
approximately 14 to 18 years old.
• They will be asked about how often they use self-luminous
devices, any medications they may take that effect melatonin
levels, and their usual sleep schedule.
HypothesisIntroduction Results DiscussionMethods Conclusion

8. METHODS AND MATERIALS TESTING WEEKS
• Each subject will be testing for two weeks.
• For both weeks the following will have to be done:
• Subjects will be given a Dimesimeter and saliva tests
• They will go home and begin the testing for that week
• Two hours before they go to bed they will put on the
Dimesimeter and use the saliva test.
• During the testing they will be asked to keep to a regular
sleep schedule.
HypothesisIntroduction Results DiscussionMethods Conclusion

9. METHODS AND MATERIALS
• They will continue doing their normal activities for that week
(Using computers, tablets, phones and other self-luminous
devices as they would normally)
• The second week the subjects will be asked to refrain from
using self-luminous devices two hours before they go to bed
TESTING WEEK 1
TESTING WEEK 2
HypothesisIntroduction Results DiscussionMethods Conclusion

10. RESULTS
• Collect data from the Dimesimeters
• The data is collected in photopic illuminance (Lux) values.
• This data also shows the colors of the lighting.
• Analyze data from the saliva tests for Melatonin
• I would hope to find a larger suppression level when the
subjects use self-luminous devices before they go to bed.
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion

11. RESULTS
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion
Date Red Green Blue Light in LUX
Week 1
Melatonin Levels
Date Red Green Blue Light in LUX
Week 2
Melatonin Levels

12. RESULTS
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion
Participant # Red Green Blue Light in LUX
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Week 1
Melatonin Levels

13. DISCUSSION
• Subjects not following directions
• They do not take a saliva test when they were supposed to.
• They do not stay on a regular sleep schedule.
• If they take any medications or supplements that effect
melatonin levels.
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion

14. CONCLUSION
• When a person is using a self-luminous device for two hours or
more before bed, they will have more melatonin suppression
than when they do not use those devices.
Future Impact
• People with sleeping problems may find that if they stop using
self-luminous devices they may sleep better.
• New devices could be tested to see if they affect sleep in
different ways.
HypothesisIntroduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion