Blue light exposure mitigates vibration noise-induced anxiety by enhancing serotonin levels (2026)

Huo, L., Miao, X., Ren, Y. et al.

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to vibration and noisy environments has been shown to contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Pharmacological interventions are typically not administered during the early stages, which may lead to the uncontrolled progression of anxiety symptoms. In this study, we found that daily exposure to low-frequency vibration for 1 hour significantly increased anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish, with the most pronounced effects observed at 100 Hz. Behavioral analyses demonstrated that exposure to blue light significantly alleviated vibration-induced anxiety. Further physiological measurements showed that vibration and noise exposure markedly elevated cortisol and norepinephrine levels in zebrafish. In contrast, prolonged exposure to 455 nm blue light significantly increased serotonin levels and decreased norepinephrine concentrations, thereby counteracting the anxiety-like state. These findings suggest that 455 nm blue light may serve as an effective, simple, adaptable, and relatively safe strategy for preventing or alleviating anxiety induced by long-term exposure to vibration and noise.