Laser therapy to improve short-term memory

by time news

The treatment, called transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), is applied to an area of ​​the brain known as the right prefrontal cortex. This area is very important for working or working memory, that is, the one that refers to the capacity that allows us to keep in mind the elements we need to perform a task.

In their work, published in “Science Advances,” the team showed how working memory improved among research participants after several minutes of treatment.

They were also able to track changes in brain activity using an electroencephalogram (EEG) during treatment and testing.

Previous studies have shown that laser light treatment was able to improve working memory in mice, and work in humans has shown that laser treatment can improve accuracy, speed reaction time, and implement functions such as attention and awareness. emotion.

However, this is the first study to confirm a link between laser light and working memory in humans.

“People with conditions like TDAH (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or others related to attention could benefit from this type of treatment, which is safe, simple and non-invasive, with no side effects,” says Dongwei Li, co-author of the article.

In the research, Peking University scientists tested this laser on 90 male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 25. One group was treated with laser light in the prefrontal cortex right at wavelengths of 1,064 nm, while another with a shorter wavelength, or treatment was delivered to the left prefrontal cortex. Each participant also received dummy or inactive laser therapy to rule out the placebo effect.

At 12 minutes into the treatment, the participants were asked to recall the orientations or color of a set of items displayed on a screen.

People with conditions like ADHD could benefit from this type of treatment, which is safe, simple and non-invasive.

Dongwei Li

Peking University

Thus, the researchers saw that those participants treated with laser light in the right prefrontal cortex at 1,064 nm showed clear improvements in memory compared to those who had received the other treatments.

The data, including electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring during the experiment, was analyzed at the University of Birmingham and showed changes in brain activity that also predicted improvements in memory performance.

Scientists do not know exactly why treatment produces positive effects on working memorynor how long the effects will last.

“We need more research to understand exactly why this laser therapy (tPBM) has this positive effect, but it is possible that the light is stimulating astrocytes, the power plants, in nerve cells, within the prefrontal cortex, and this has a positive effect on cell efficiency,” explains Ole Jensen of the Center for Human Brain Health.

The researchers also want to understand how long the effects can last. “If these experiments are to lead to a clinical intervention, we will need to demonstrate lasting benefits.”

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