Laser Therapy Could Solve Short Term Memory Problems

Laser Therapy Could Solve Short Term Memory Problems
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Non-invasive as it may be, researchers at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and Beijing Normal University in China have shown that it can produce significant improvements in people’s short-term or working memory—up to 25%.

The right prefrontal cortex is the target of this treatment, which is also known as transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM). The significance of this region to working memory has been widely acknowledged.

Using a simple treatment protocol that took only a few minutes to implement, the team demonstrated that working memory can be enhanced in research participants. Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring allowed them to observe any alterations in brain activity as patients underwent evaluations and therapies.

Treatment with laser light has been proven to enhance working memory in mice, while studies in humans have indicated that transcranial magnetic stimulation (tPBM) can enhance precision, speed of reaction, and higher-order cognitive processes, including attention and emotion regulation.

Nevertheless, this is the first human study to demonstrate a connection between tPBM and working memory.

Scientists at Beijing Normal University conducted the studies with 90 young adults (ages 18-25). Some participants received treatment in the right prefrontal cortex with laser light at a wavelength of 1,064 nm, whereas others received treatment at a shorter wavelength or on the left side of the brain. To eliminate the possibility of a placebo response, each person was also given a dummy tPBM.

Participants were given tPBM for 12 minutes and then tested on their ability to recall sets of items based on their orientations or colors. Memory performance was significantly enhanced in the group that received 1,064 nm laser light to the right prefrontal cortex compared to the other treatment groups.

Targeted treatment improved recollection from three to five items on the exam, while other treatment variations improved recall from two to three items.

The University of Birmingham reviewed data gathered from many sources, including electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring done during the experiment, and found changes in brain activity that predicted the gains in memory function.

Neither the duration of the treatment’s effects nor the reason for them is now known by the research team. These questions will hopefully be explored in future studies.


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Anna is an avid blogger with an educational background in medicine and mental health. She is a generalist with many other interests including nutrition, women's health, astronomy and photography. In her free time from work and writing, Anna enjoys nature walks, reading, and listening to jazz and classical music.

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