We describe the development and validation of a test battery to assess musical ability that taps into a broad range of music perception skills and can be administered in 10 minutes or less. In Study 1, we derived four very brief versions from the Profile of Music Perception Skills (PROMS) and examined their properties in a sample of 280 participants. In Study 2 (N = 109), we administered the version retained from Study 1—termed Micro-PROMS—with the full-length PROMS, finding a short-to-long-form correlation of r = .72. In Study 3 (N = 198), we removed redundant trials and examined test–retest reliability as well as convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Results showed adequate internal consistency ( $$\overline{\omega}$$ω ¯ = .73) and test–retest reliability (ICC = .83). Findings supported convergent validity of the Micro-PROMS (r = .59 with the MET, p < .01) as well as discriminant validity with short-term and working memory (r ≲ .20). Criterion-related validity was evidenced by significant correlations of the Micro-PROMS with external indicators of musical proficiency ( $$\overline{r}$$r ¯ = .37, ps < .01), and with Gold-MSI General Musical Sophistication (r = .51, p<.01). In virtue of its brevity, psychometric qualities, and suitability for online administration, the battery fills a gap in the tools available to objectively assess musical ability.

Attention is essential to the work. This study investigated the effects of two different light pulses on a simple attention task. In addition, the effects of subsequent exposure to constant but different illuminance levels on the continuation of the simple attention task and a subsequent complex attention task were examined. A total of 56 subjects were assigned in random order to two white light interventions that were repeated five times during the morning. Each light intervention consisted of a brief light pulse followed by constant light exposure and differed in temporal dimming dynamics and corneal illuminance. Subjective and psychometric parameters were recorded several times during light exposure. Heart rate variability (HRV) was derived from continuous electrocardiograms. Subjects showed improved reaction speed in the simple attention task, accompanied by higher HRV under a brighter light pulse without habituation by repetition. This difference in simple attention performance disappeared when light exposure remained the same after the light pulse. In addition, higher reaction speed and HRV were observed in the complex attention task under constant bright light exposure. Intermittent bright light seems promising to acutely improve attentional performance in office workplaces. Future research is needed to investigate daytime light effects on other work-related cognitive functions.

The Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) includes the luminance of a glare source quadratically, but the solid angle only linearly. While this is in line with formulae of other glare metrics, it must be questioned for small glare sources, if the glare stimulus can no longer be distinguished from larger stimuli causing equal vertical illuminance at the eye, especially in the peripheral visual field. To account for this, the modified version Daylight Glare Metric (DGM) was previously developed. We conducted two studies to evaluate the effect of the modified DGM. First, in a laboratory study under an artificial sky with an LED sun, 35 test subjects evaluated different glare situations. Second, we performed a comprehensive simulation study for an office space, including three locations, three view directions, and 17 window systems (electrochromic glazing, fabric shades). The results from the perception study under the artificial sky provide evidence that the adapted DGM is better suited to predict glare from small, bright sources. The results from the simulation study for a realistic office setting show that, compared to the DGP, the DGM reduces glare ratings for many hours of the year, thus underscoring the practical relevance of improving the DGP formula.

Background: University students often experience high levels of stress and anxiety during exam periods, adversely affecting their well‐being and academic performance. This study investigated the short‐term effects of evening bright light (BL) exposure on several psychophysiological stress measures during exam preparation.Methods: In this preregistered randomized controlled pilot study, 35 university students were assigned either to an intervention group exposed to BL (1500 lx, 4000 K; n = 18) or a control light (CL) group with standard lighting (100 lx, 3000 K; n = 17) for 4 h over five consecutive evenings. Outcomes included questionnaires (test anxiety, general anxiety, psychological distress), cognitive performance (2‐back, go‐/no‐go task [GNT]), physiological stress (heart rate variability [HRV]), and subjective and objective sleep quality measures (actigraphy).Results: The BL group showed significant reductions in test anxiety by the last evening. Both groups improved in working memory performance over time. HRV analysis revealed mixed results, with some indications of reduced stress in the BL group on the first day. No adverse effects of evening BL were found on sleep parameters, and participants reported significantly higher satisfaction with the BL exposure.Conclusions: Evening BL exposure during exam preparation may help reduce test anxiety without significantly disrupting sleep. Although cognitive performance effects were limited, the perceived usefulness suggests that BL could be a well‐accepted supportive measure for students during stressful academic periods. Further research is needed to optimize light‐based interventions for student well‐being.

Attention is fundamental for high work performance. First evidence suggests an effect of daytime light on subjective alertness and attention performance. The present study aims at quantifying temporal dynamics in a simple and complex sustained attention task triggered by repeated exposure to bright white light.In a within-subject design, 56 well-rested subjects were randomly assigned to two 30-minute intermittent light conditions five times in the morning. In the active intermittent light condition corneal illuminances were increased to 1,360 lx within 30 seconds and stayed there for 29.5 minutes. In the placebo intermittent light condition a short de- and increase of the corneal illuminance took place first (within 45 seconds). Then illuminances were gradually dimmed to standard workplace illuminance (within 195 seconds) and stayed there for 26 minutes. Subjective and psychometric parameters were recorded before and at several times during each light intervention. Moreover, cardiovascular parameters were derived from continuously recorded electrocardiograms.Subjective alertness, workload, mood and asthenopic complaints as well as visual acuity were not affected by the intervention. However, subjects showed a transiently improved reaction speed on a simple attention task within the first 5 minutes in the active light intervention whereas reaction speed was generally improved in the complex attention task. Both cognitive effects were accompanied by decreased heart rate and increased heart rate variability.Exposure to repeated daytime bright white light seems to be a promising and acceptable intervention to acutely increase attention at office workplaces. Further studies are warranted to substantiate these light effects.