Light Intensity Lab Report

Words: 1080
Pages: 5

In the experiment, after exposure to either darkness or light for 1200 seconds, subjects in both conditions had to be exposed once again to regular room lighting in order to complete the graph test. There was no difference in light intensity for the subjects previously exposed to light, but for those who had been exposed to 1200 seconds of darkness, their vision and concentration was temporarily hindered by the shock of the increased light intensity. Because of this disorientation, one would expect that the dark condition R-squared value deviations would be, on average, higher than what could be attributed solely to the increased melatonin production. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact extent of impedance to cognitive ability caused …show more content…
Subject 10 drew a line with a deviation from the true line of best fit of 24.18. For the dark condition, this subject’s R-Squared Value Deviation also exceeded the mean for this condition (21.49), by 4.81. After exposure to darkness, Subject 5 also drew a line of best fit that deviated 7.65 units more from the true line of best fit than the average subject’s line. Hence, R-squared value deviations tended to be higher for subjects 5 and 10, who were particularly affected by the shock of the increased light intensity. Their stress also contributed to unusually high final heart rate readings – and increases in heart rate – for the dark condition, which explains the discrepancy noted in the conclusion. Although melatonin should have decreased heart rate, the shock of the change in light intensity made the mean increase in heart rate for the dark condition 2 bpm higher than for the light condition. To remedy this, all subjects should be allotted a ‘recovery time’ of 10 seconds so the dark condition subjects can adjust to the change in light intensity. This way, the R-squared value deviations will reflect the change in mental acuity of the subjects due solely to the change in melatonin levels, and not to subjects’ level of physical