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. 2023 Jun 30;13(7):1490.
doi: 10.3390/life13071490.

Effects of Near-Infrared Pulsed Light on the Attention of Human Beings Using Electroencephalography

Jih-Huah Wu  1 , Chia-Yen Yang  1 , Yang-Chyuan Chang  2 , Yi-Chia Shan  3
Affiliations

Effects of Near-Infrared Pulsed Light on the Attention of Human Beings Using Electroencephalography

Jih-Huah Wu et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

In our previous studies, photobiomodulation (PBM) stimulation can induce significant brain activation in normal subjects. In an open-eye study, the PBM stimulation was able to increase the power of alpha rhythms and theta waves, as well as decrease the beta activities after PBM stimulation. However, in the closed eyes study, the alpha rhythms in the laser group were reduced. This means the PBM stimulation can induce specific brainwaves under different conditions. Thus, to investigate the effects of PBM stimulation on human's attention, forty students were recruited in this single-blind randomized trial. A PBM stimulator, with seven pcs laser diodes (LDs), frequency 10 Hz, 30 mW/each LD, and wavelength 830 nm, was used to radiate the palm of the subject. PBM stimulation was found to induce significant variation in beta activity in most of the regions of the brain in the laser group. Compared to the placebo group, the PBM stimulation has a significant change in beta activity on electroencephalography (EEG). Three types of tests, the random number test, the Stroop color-word test, and the Multiple-Dimension Attention Test (MDAT), were used to evaluate the effects of the PBM stimulation. The scores of MDAT in the laser group increased more significantly than those in the placebo group after PBM stimulation (p < 0.01). An improvement in attention was observed in this study.

Keywords: EEG; attention; brainwave; photobiomodulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The PBM stimulator was applied to the palm of the tester.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The protocol of this study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representative topographic maps of the power ratios in the laser (a) and the control (b) groups. The number represents the stage order of the epochs after rest0, i.e., 1 indicates stimulus1, 2 indicates stimulus2, 3 indicates rest1, 4 indicates rest2, and 5 indicates rest3.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean values of the ratios from the whole brain in the theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands across all subjects. The numbers correspond to the time stages.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The mean and standard deviation values of the ratio in the beta band for six frontal electrodes. The red triangle indicates a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the laser and the control groups.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The mean and standard deviation values of the ratio in the beta band for five parietal electrodes. The red triangle indicates a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the laser and the control groups.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The statistical analysis of the Stroop test by comparing the error values before and after the stimulation in either group. * p < 0.05 by paired-sample t-test.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The statistical analysis of the MDAT by comparing the values of grade (a) and time (b) in two groups. ** p < 0.01 by paired-sample t-test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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