Effects of dynamic lighting on neurobehavioral performance under different mental states in the working area of a space station

During spaceflight, astronauts are exposed to multiple environmental stressors, which significantly impact their performance. Artificial lighting, as the primary or even sole light source, plays a critical role due to its non-visual effects. However, whether dynamic lighting (DL) can serve as a sensory stimulus to improve performance remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the non-visual effects and neural mechanisms of DL. A total of 30 participants took part in a single-blind, within-subjects experiment employing a 2 (static vs. dynamic light) × 2 (mental states: fatigue vs. non-fatigue) design. Participants completed a series of tasks under different experimental conditions to assess their neurobehavioral performance under DL. The results demonstrated that exposure to DL selectively improved cognition, but did not yield significant benefits for subjective alertness or mood. EEG analysis revealed that lower-frequency bands, particularly theta and alpha, were highly sensitive to DL, primarily reflecting its suppressive effects on these bands.