Light Up the Holidays: Share Your Sparkling Displays with Los Angeles
For many of us, the holiday season isn’t complete without experiencing the joy of dazzling light displays. Whether it’s a meticulously decorated home or a neighborhood transformed into a winter wonderland, twinkling lights evoke a sense of magic and merriment.
A Neurological Sparkle
And there’s a reason those twinkling lights make us feel so good. According to mental health experts, the sight of holiday illuminations can trigger a neurological shift, releasing feel-good hormones like dopamine.
“It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness,” Psychologist Deborah Serani, a senior professor at New York’s Adelphi University, told NBC’s “Today” show. “I think anything that takes us out of our normal habituation, the normal day in, day out… signals our senses, and then our senses measure if it’s pleasing or not.”
Decorating for the holidays, Serani says, “will spike dopamine, a feel-good hormone,” reminding us of a time filled with innocence and joy.
Spread Holiday Cheer with Patch
That’s why we want to showcase the best and brightest holiday light displays throughout Los Angeles County. We’re inviting homeowners to share their festive creations with our readers and bring a little extra sparkle to the season.
Here’s how to illuminate our holiday roundup:
Share Your Holiday Sparkle
Email us photos and a description of your holiday light display to [email protected].
Please include:
*
Location Details
Share the exact address of your glittering holiday creation, along with your phone number (not for publication). This will help us locate your dazzling display.
*
Light Schedule:
Let us know the dates when your festive lights illuminate the night, and the time they’re switched on and off each evening.
*
A Name for Your Winter Wonderland:
If your winter wonderland has a catchy name, be sure to share it with us! If not, we can help you brainstorm the perfect moniker
*
What Makes It Special:
Tell us about the unique elements of your display. Are synchronized lights dancing to holiday tunes, are there special characters greeting visitors, or are you offering delicious treats like popcorn?
*
What neurological processes explain why holiday lights bring us joy?
## Light Up the Holidays: A Neurological Sparkle
**(Intro Music)**
**Host**: Welcome back to the show! As the holiday season kicks in, many of us are already decking the halls with twinkling lights. But have you ever wondered why these festive illuminations bring such joy? Today, we’re joined by Dr. Jennifer Miller, a neuropsychologist, to shed some light on the science behind sparkle. Welcome to the show, Dr. Miller!
**Dr. Miller**: Thank you for having me.
**Host**: So, Dr. Miller, tell us – why do holiday lights have such a powerful effect on our mood?
**Dr. Miller**: Well, it’s fascinating! Our brains are wired to respond to visual stimulation, and the bright colors and patterns of holiday lights can trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. Think of it like a little chemical reward system activated by ✨sparkle✨ .
**Host**: That’s amazing! It’s like our brains are hardwired for holiday cheer.
**Dr. Miller**: Absolutely! And beyond dopamine, the colors themselves can play a role.
**Host**: Really? How so?
**Dr. Miller**: Colour therapy, or chromotherapy, suggests that different colors can influence our emotions. Red and green, for instance, the classic holiday colors, are often associated with energy, excitement, and warmth, further contributing to that festive feeling. [[1](https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/428718-trending-science-the-science-of-why-holiday-lights-bring-us-joy)]
**Host**: So, it’s a trifecta of visual stimulation, colors, and even a little bit of chemistry!
**Dr. Miller**: Exactly! It’s a wonderful synergy.
**Host**: This definitely gives a whole new meaning to “merry & bright”! Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Dr. Miller.
**Dr. Miller**: It was my pleasure. Happy Holidays!
**(Outro Music)**
