Overcoming Jet Lag with the Help of a Computer Program
A new study published on June 19 shows that mathematical models can be used to design effective treatment schedules for jet lag. The tools were used to create optimal schedules for bright light therapy.The system was tested on a simulated 12-hour shift of a sleep-wake schedule. This is similar to what a person would experience when traveling from New York to Hong Kong. Simulation results show that the computer-generated treatment schedule produced faster performance recovery.”This work shows how interventions can cut the number of days needed to adjust to a new time zone by half,” study co-author Daniel Forger said in a prepared statement.Properly timed light exposure can reset the circadian body clock to align with a new time zone. But using bright light therapy at the wrong times can be …