Influência da estimulação com óculos de lentes azuis sobre os níveis de melatonina, tempo de reação e parâmetros psicométricos em atletas de voleibol juvenil

Abstract

The influence of light on the human body is directly linked to visual, neurobehavioral and neurobiological processes. Its long wave bands are captured by specialized structures inside the eye and transmitted to the suprachiasmatic nucleus responsible for circadian synchronization. Such luminous stimuli are interpreted and retransmitted to the pineal gland, which in this way produces the hormone melatonin, responsible for the modulation of sleep pattern and vigilance. Several studies have already demonstrated the benefits of light exposure stimulation in the treatment of depression and anxiety, changes in body temperature, heart rate, melatonin production and consequently changes in alertness and cognitive profile. However little is known about the effects of the use of medium and large wave protection filters during exposure to a lighting pattern under the biological and behavioral parameters of young volleyball players. Thus, the objective of this work was to analyze the effect of using glasses with filters under an artificial light pattern, on the performance of young volleyball players, to measure cognitive performance through a Psychomotor Vigilance test, measure the melatonin hormone and the interrelationship between cognitive and motor tasks. Fifteen young volleyball players (15.1 ± 1.5 years, 180.9 ± 11.5 cm, 76.6 ± 13.9 kg, 23.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2), with regular wake up time at 6:30 a.m. and sleeping time at 10:40 p.m., performed voluntarily and in a randomized manner during the night time, stimulation to an illumination pattern using glasses with and without wavelength filter. The subjective quality of sleep, chronotype and recovery status were verified before the tests. At each session, athletes underwent a total darkness process for subsequent exposure to light. The salivary melatonin collection was performed ten minutes after total darkness exposure and then after thirty minutes of light exposure. After these processes the athletes were checked up on the state of subjective attention and test of cognitive and physical performance. Results showed that stimulation with unfiltered glasses promoted an acute reduction of salivary melatonin and improvement on cognitive and physical performance test. However, subjective alertness tended to improve when athletes used glasses with protective filters. In view of the results obtained, we concluded that glasses with protective filter did not influence the physical and cognitive performance and the reduction of salivary melatonin.