zlacker

>>ivank+(OP)
You seem convinced your brain "slows down" after the equinox due to (the lack of) bright light, but it's probably just the placebo effect. Has anyone ever convincingly measured the effect of bright light therapy on mood and intelligence?

>>applec+ah1
I'm assuming you've never spent a winter somewhere with less than 3 hours of daylight during the winter months. I don't think anyone who has would question the effect of sunlight on mood.

When I lived such a winter, the effect of standing in full sunlight when it was available was like eating sugar after heavy exercise. (And biochemically, this makes perfect sense given that we know the body uses sunlight to synthesize essential compounds.)

It makes sense to question the effect of a specific lamp, but the body's need for sunlight is obvious, even absent the scientific research.