Examining the Effect of Blue-Enriched Light on Selective Attention in Light-Dependent Occupational Activities: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Background: Given the increasing prevalence of modern artificial light sources and electronic displays in work environments, exposure to blue light has emerged as a significant environmental factor. Moreover, studies have demonstrated that blue light contributes to enhanced alertness and the improvement of cognitive functions, including selective attention.
Methods: This narrative review was conducted with the aim of providing a synthesis of the existing scientific literature on the effects of blue-enriched light on selective attention. The study commenced with a search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SID databases. The search was conducted by utilizing “blue light” or “short-wavelength light” and “attention” or “alertness” keywords from 2010 to June 2025.
Results: By outlining the underlying physiological and neural mechanisms—particularly the role of ipRGCs and the melanopsin pigment—this study illustrates how blue light influences circadian rhythms, alertness, and cognitive performance. Empirical evidence consistently indicates that blue light can enhance alertness, reaction time, and performance on specific cognitive tasks such as working memory and sustained attention. However, its effects on memory and sleep remain variable, and inappropriate exposure, particularly during nighttime, may disrupt circadian rhythms and lead to adverse health outcomes.
Conclusion: The strategic management of blue-enriched light in occupational environments holds potential for enhancing selective attention, improving overall cognitive performance, and contributing to a safer, more productive, and healthier workforce. Realizing this potential requires rigorous and ongoing scientific research, along with a comprehensive approach to workplace lighting that integrates both visual and non-visual biological considerations.
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14. Chellappa SL, Gordijn MC, Cajochen C. Can light make us bright? Effects of light on cognition and sleep. Prog Brain Res. 2011;190:119-33.
15. Scheuermaier K, Münch M, Ronda JM, Duffy JF. Improved cognitive morning performance in healthy older adults following blue-enriched light exposure on the previous evening. Behav Brain Res. 2018;348:267-75.
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27. Tonetti L, Natale V. Effects of a single short exposure to blue light on cognitive performance. Chronobiol Int. 2019;36(5):725-32.
28. Matsuo M, Higuchi T, Ishibashi T, Egashira A, Abe T, Miyabara H. Enhancement of visual attention by color revealed using electroencephalography. Open J Ther Rehabil. 2024;12(1):1-9.
29. Kim JH, Lee KS, Shim JM, Lee CW. A Study on the Impact of Blue Light and Its Brightness on Long-Term Memory. Appl Sci. 2024;14(20):9350.
30. Lin Z, Hou G, Yao Y, Zhou Z, Zhu F, Liu L, et al. 40-Hz blue light changes hippocampal activation and functional connectivity underlying recognition memory. Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:739333.
31. Golmohammadi R, Mehdinia M, Shahidi R, Darvishi E. Lighting Effects On Mental And Cognitive Performance - A Systematic Review. J Occup Hyg Eng. 2017;4(2):1-10.
32. Bansal N, Prakash NR, Randhawa JS, Kalra P. Effects of blue light on cognitive performance. Int Res J Eng Technol. 2017;4(6):2434-42.
33. Medithe JWC, Nelakuditi UR. Study on the impact of light on human physiology and electroencephalogram. J Biomim Biomater Biomed Eng. 2016;28:36-43.
34. Mu YM, Huang XD, Zhu S, Hu ZF, So KF, Ren CR, Tao Q. Alerting effects of light in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neural Regen Res. 2022;17(9):1929-36.
35. Cupertino MDC, Guimaraes BT, Pimenta JFG, Almeida LVLD, Santana LN, Ribeiro TA, Santana YN. Light Pollution: a systematic review about the impacts of artificial light on human health. Biol Rhythm Res. 2023;54(3):263-75.
36. Xiao H, Cai H, Li X. Non-visual effects of indoor light environment on humans: A review. Physiol Behav. 2021;228:113195.
37. Guarana CL, Barnes CM, Ong WJ. The effects of blue-light filtration on sleep and work outcomes. J Appl Psychol. 2021;106(5):784-96.
38. Viola A, James L, Schlangen L, Dijk D. Blue-enriched light improves self-reported alertness and performance in the workplace. J Sleep Res. 2008;17(Suppl 1):117.
39. Charkhabi SA, Sharifi Z, Janizadeh R, Rahdar M, Kazemi R. The effect of blue light on cognitive function at workplaces: A systematic review. Physiol Behav. 2025;289:114758.
2. Chellappa SL, Steiner R, Blattner P, Oelhafen P, Götz T, Cajochen C. Non-visual effects of light on melatonin, alertness and cognitive performance: can blue-enriched light keep us alert? PLoS One. 2011;6(1):e16429.
3. Fisher AV. Selective sustained attention: A developmental foundation for cognition. Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;29:248-53.
4. Charkhabi SA, Sharifi Z, Janizadeh R, Rahdar M, Kazemi R. The effect of blue light on cognitive function at workplaces: A systematic review. Physiol Behav. 2025;289:114758.
5. Tosini G, Ferguson I, Tsubota K. Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology. Mol Vis. 2016;22:61-72.
6. Wong NA, Bahmani H. A review of the current state of research on artificial blue light safety as it applies to digital devices. Heliyon. 2022;8(8):e10282.
7. Cougnard-Gregoire A, Merle BM, Aslam T, Seddon JM, Aknin I, Klaver CC, et al. Blue light exposure: ocular hazards and prevention—a narrative review. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023;12(2):755-88.
8. Holzman DC. What’s in a color? The unique human health effects of blue light. Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118(1):A22-7.
9. Gomes CC, Preto S. Blue light: A blessing or a curse? Procedia Manuf. 2015;3:4472-9.
10. Alkozei A, Smith R, Pisner DA, Vanuk JR, Berryhill SM, Fridman A, et al. Exposure to blue light increases subsequent functional activation of the prefrontal cortex during performance of a working memory task. Sleep. 2016;39(9):1671-80.
11. Alkozei A, Smith R, Dailey NS, Bajaj S, Killgore WD. Acute exposure to blue wavelength light during memory consolidation improves verbal memory performance. PLoS One. 2017;12(9):e0184884.
12. Sunde E, Pedersen T, Mrdalj J, Thun E, Grønli J, Harris A, et al. Blue-enriched white light improves performance but not subjective alertness and circadian adaptation during three consecutive simulated night shifts. Front Psychol. 2020;11:2172.
13. Alkozei A, Dailey NS, Bajaj S, Vanuk JR, Raikes AC, Killgore WD. Exposure to blue wavelength light is associated with increases in bidirectional amygdala-DLPFC connectivity at rest. Front Neurol. 2021;12:625443.
14. Chellappa SL, Gordijn MC, Cajochen C. Can light make us bright? Effects of light on cognition and sleep. Prog Brain Res. 2011;190:119-33.
15. Scheuermaier K, Münch M, Ronda JM, Duffy JF. Improved cognitive morning performance in healthy older adults following blue-enriched light exposure on the previous evening. Behav Brain Res. 2018;348:267-75.
16. Tallon-Baudry C. On the neural mechanisms subserving consciousness and attention. Front Psychol. 2012;2:397.
17. Speer S. The effect of background music, speech and silence on office workers’ selective attention [dissertation]. Tallahassee (FL): The Florida State University; 2011.
18. Tams S, Thatcher J, Grover V, Pak R. Selective attention as a protagonist in contemporary workplace stress: Implications for the interruption age. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2015;28(6):663-86.
19. Cohen J, LaRue C, Cohen HH. Attention interrupted: Cognitive distraction & workplace safety. Prof Saf. 2017;62(11):28-34.
20. van Moorselaar D, Slagter HA. Inhibition in selective attention. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2020;1464(1):204-21.
21. Miller PH. The development of strategies of selective attention. In: Miller PH, editor. Children’s strategies: Contemporary views of cognitive development. New York: Psychology Press; 2013. p. 157-84.
22. Anderson BA, Kim N, Gregoire L, Yan N, Ahn CR. Attention failures cause workplace accidents: Why workers ignore hazards and what to do about it. Policy Insights Behav Brain Sci. 2024;11(1):27-35.
23. Aroke O, Esmaeili B, Hasanzadeh S, Dodd MD, Brock R. The role of work experience on hazard identification: Assessing the mediating effect of inattention under fall-hazard conditions. In: Construction Research Congress 2020: Safety, Workforce, and Education; 2020 Mar 8-10; Tempe, AZ. Reston (VA): American Society of Civil Engineers; 2020. p. 512-21.
24. Buodo G, Patron E, Messerotti Benvenuti S, Palomba D. Single-session attention bias modification training in victims of work-related accidents. Front Psychol. 2018;9:1619.
25. Silvani MI, Werder R, Perret C. The influence of blue light on sleep, performance and wellbeing in young adults: A systematic review. Front Physiol. 2022;13:943108.
26. Golmohammadi R, Yousefi H, Khotbesara NS, Nasrolahi A, Kurd N. Effects of light on attention and reaction time: A systematic review. J Res Health Sci. 2021;21(4):e00529.
27. Tonetti L, Natale V. Effects of a single short exposure to blue light on cognitive performance. Chronobiol Int. 2019;36(5):725-32.
28. Matsuo M, Higuchi T, Ishibashi T, Egashira A, Abe T, Miyabara H. Enhancement of visual attention by color revealed using electroencephalography. Open J Ther Rehabil. 2024;12(1):1-9.
29. Kim JH, Lee KS, Shim JM, Lee CW. A Study on the Impact of Blue Light and Its Brightness on Long-Term Memory. Appl Sci. 2024;14(20):9350.
30. Lin Z, Hou G, Yao Y, Zhou Z, Zhu F, Liu L, et al. 40-Hz blue light changes hippocampal activation and functional connectivity underlying recognition memory. Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:739333.
31. Golmohammadi R, Mehdinia M, Shahidi R, Darvishi E. Lighting Effects On Mental And Cognitive Performance - A Systematic Review. J Occup Hyg Eng. 2017;4(2):1-10.
32. Bansal N, Prakash NR, Randhawa JS, Kalra P. Effects of blue light on cognitive performance. Int Res J Eng Technol. 2017;4(6):2434-42.
33. Medithe JWC, Nelakuditi UR. Study on the impact of light on human physiology and electroencephalogram. J Biomim Biomater Biomed Eng. 2016;28:36-43.
34. Mu YM, Huang XD, Zhu S, Hu ZF, So KF, Ren CR, Tao Q. Alerting effects of light in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neural Regen Res. 2022;17(9):1929-36.
35. Cupertino MDC, Guimaraes BT, Pimenta JFG, Almeida LVLD, Santana LN, Ribeiro TA, Santana YN. Light Pollution: a systematic review about the impacts of artificial light on human health. Biol Rhythm Res. 2023;54(3):263-75.
36. Xiao H, Cai H, Li X. Non-visual effects of indoor light environment on humans: A review. Physiol Behav. 2021;228:113195.
37. Guarana CL, Barnes CM, Ong WJ. The effects of blue-light filtration on sleep and work outcomes. J Appl Psychol. 2021;106(5):784-96.
38. Viola A, James L, Schlangen L, Dijk D. Blue-enriched light improves self-reported alertness and performance in the workplace. J Sleep Res. 2008;17(Suppl 1):117.
39. Charkhabi SA, Sharifi Z, Janizadeh R, Rahdar M, Kazemi R. The effect of blue light on cognitive function at workplaces: A systematic review. Physiol Behav. 2025;289:114758.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 17 No 3 (2025) | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| Published | 2026-06-08 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Blue-Enriched Light Circadian Rhythms Workplace Selective Attention Cognitive Performance | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Ghelichi Zaveh Z, Zamanian Z. Examining the Effect of Blue-Enriched Light on Selective Attention in Light-Dependent Occupational Activities: A Narrative Review. Int J Occup Hyg. 2026;17(3):198-206.
