The concept of BRIGHT office for night-shift employees was published decades ago: But I'ld challenge any suggestion that USAF wants all cockpits BRIGHT at night, or that pilots should NOT see outside visual cues during night-CRZ (Saint Elmo's fire, islands or cities along route, cloud shapes & cell-tops, rime under a wiper-blade).
Lights on at night please. If there is Saint-Elmo's fire, then there are storms around and potential lightning, we use radar to detect those you know. Potential lightning is yet another reason to keep max lighting on.
Islands or cities... not for navigation any more, could not care less unless I particularly want to see a certain island or city. Cloud shapes & cell-tops? On a moonless night? Your eyesight is a darn lot better than mine.
Rime under a wiper-blade? Naah way above that in my region of flying. Most of my flying is crossing the North-Atlantic, not much to see, but a long time to stay awake on the eastbounds. Light helps.