Hello, i'm Shashwat Mishra. I've noticed a significant shift in my preferred study time over the years. As a child, I consistently preferred and was more productive studying during the daytime. However, after several years of frequent smartphone and laptop use primarily in dark mode , I now find it extremely difficult to focus on studying during the day (even for an hour), while I can study for extended periods throughout the night without feeling tired.

This personal experience raises a question about the potential influence of prolonged and consistent exposure to dark mode interfaces on our cognitive associations and potentially our circadian rhythms, particularly in the context of learning and focus.

While I recognize the principle of correlation vs. causation, my anecdotal experience suggests a possible link. I initially preferred daytime study, and the shift towards a strong preference for night time study coincided with my increased and consistent use of dark mode on my digital devices. It's possible that this is merely a correlation, and other factors are primarily responsible for the change in my chronotype and study habits. However, it also raises the hypothesis that the consistent visual association of learning/device use with a dark interface (mirroring the evening/night environment) could have psychologically reinforced a preference for night time cognitive work and potentially contributed to a reduced ability to focus under brighter daytime conditions.

I am curious if other researchers have explored or observed similar phenomena regarding the long-term psychological and potentially physiological effects of consistent dark mode usage on:

• Shifts in preferred times for cognitive tasks (like studying or focused work)?
• Changes in sensitivity to daytime brightness and its impact on focus?
• The formation of learned associations between specific visual environments (like dark interfaces) and cognitive states?

I would be very interested to hear about any existing research, theoretical frameworks, or even anecdotal observations from others that might shed light on this potential connection. Furthermore, I believe this warrants more formal investigation with controlled studies to determine if there is a causal link between prolonged dark mode usage and shifts in preferred productivity times.

Thank you for your insights!