Study: Light enhances brain activity during cognitive task even in blind people

Researchers at the University of Montreal have discovered that light will stimulate brain activity even in patients who are completely blind. According to one of the researchers "Light doesn't just allow us to see, it tells the brain whether it's night or day which in -turn ensures that our physiology, metabolism and behavior are synchronized with environmental time". Brains can “see” light via a photoreceptor in the ganglion layer of the retina that is different from rods and cones. These specialized photoreceptors contribute to visual function in the brain even when other receptors have lost their ability to function properly. Tests were performed on blind patients involving blue lights that were adjusted between an on and off functions. Every time the patients had the ability to recognize that the light was on. After these physical tests were performed, a series of electrical tests were used to assess brain activation in accordance to light. The results were the same; the brain reacted to a stimulus of light. Further research is still underway but theory may explain why the brain's performance is improved when light is present during tasks. I found this article somewhat applicable because my aunt is completely blind but whenever she went outside she would always comment on how bright the day was outside causing me to be somewhat confused, because how could she possibly know if it was brighter or dimmer outside? Now of course, the research has not gone into enough depth to recognize if a blind person can recognize brighter lights compare to others but it was interesting to find out that blind people can in fact recognize daylight and their body will respond to it.