Bright Light Therapy via Ear Canals Improved Reaction Times of Top Athletes in a Placebo-Controlled Psycho-Motoric Study

HELSINKI, December 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

A placebo controlled study involving top ice hockey players from the Finnish national league has shown motoric reaction times reduced by one fifth in players using the Valkee bright light headset. In the treatment group, the athletes were given 12 minutes of bright light via the ear canal each morning for three weeks. The study was conducted by the Department of Exercise and Medical Physiology at Verve Research, Finland.

Motoric reaction times describe how quickly we react to visual stimulus and convert these into actual movements. The Valkee bright light headset is a portable device that channels 8-12 minute doses of safe bright light directly to light-sensitive areas of the brain via the ear canal. Earlier in 2011, University of Oulu, Finland, presented two clinical trials using bright light via ear canals to treat seasonal affective disorder, and the presence of light-sensitive cells in the human brain.

Docent Mikko Tulppo, who led the study at the Department of Exercise and Medical Physiology at Verve Research, Finland, commented: "The placebo-controlled study showed a significant improvement in motoric reaction times of top athletes using bright light via the ear canal."  

Juuso Nissilä, chief scientist at Valkee, the inventor of the bright light headset, said: "The ice hockey players were all in prime cognitive and physical condition, and their reaction times were already extremely fast already before using the Valkee bright light headset. The fact that bright light via ear canals is proving to provide an additional edge is very promising for athletes and sports enthusiasts."

This placebo-controlled, phycho-motoric study of Valkee bright light via ear canal on national level ice hockey players in Finland was conducted independently by the Department of Exercise and Medical Physiology at Verve Research in the fall 2011.

Valkee launched its bright-light headset in August 2010. Being based on cross-functional science in neurology, biology, psychiatry and physiology, Valkee is a CE-certified Class II(a) medical device under the EU regulations.

About Valkee

The Valkee (http://valkee.com) bright light headset channels bright light direct to light-sensitive areas of the human brain via ear canals to improve mood and performance. In earlier clinical trials, 9 of 10 patients suffering from severe seasonal affective disorder - also known as winter blues - experienced total symptom relief latest in 4 weeks with a daily 8-12 minute dose. Valkee is based on scientific research carried out since 2007, and is a CE-marked Class II(a) medical device. More information and for international online shop http://valkee.com

About Department of Exercise and Medical Physiology at Verve

Verve is a Finnish nationwide provider of research, rehabilitation and consulting services for occupational health, and physiology and exercise research. The Department of Exercise and Medical Physiology at verve engages in cross-disciplinary research, which most significantly integrates exercise physiology, cardiology and mathematics. Verve's research team is especially interested in the interrelationships of cardiac function, exercise, stress and cognitive performance.