Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26817446›Full record

Trial reportLasers in surgery and medicine2016

Transcranial laser stimulation improves human cerebral oxygenation.

Fenghua Tian, Snehal N Hase, F Gonzalez-Lima, Hanli Liu

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · hybridAbstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Lasers in surgery and medicine, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 75 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
75citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
14.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06352372 phase2completednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Safety and Efficacy of Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epileptiform Activity

TypeinterventionalSponsorRichard FryeRan2024 to 2026Enrolled6ConditionsAutism Spectrum Disorder, EEG With Periodic Abnormalities, Epilepsy, Neurodevelopmental DisordersArmsnoninvasively delivered near infra-red (NIR) light - transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM)
NCT07651787 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Neurovascular and Mitochondrial Mechanisms of Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of OklahomaRan2025 to 2026Enrolled40ConditionsMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Amyloid PathologyArmsActive Vielight Neuro RX-Duo device -Active transcranial photobiomodulation, Sham Vielight Neuro RX-Duo device -Sham transcranial photobiomodulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

75 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 162 citations in OpenAlex.

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  4. Efficacy of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on Depressive Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis.Photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery · 2023
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  15. Dose dependence and neurovascular mechanisms of the fMRI response to pulsed photobiomodulation in humans.Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism · 2026
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15 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Fenghua TianDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Texas, Arlington, Texas, 76010.
Snehal N HaseDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Texas, Arlington, Texas, 76010.
F Gonzalez-LimaDepartment of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712.
Hanli LiuDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Texas, Arlington, Texas, 76010.
The University of Texas at Arlington · USThe University of Texas at Austin · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveTranscranial laser stimulation of the brain with near-infrared light is a novel form of non-invasive photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) that has shown therapeutic potential in a variety of neurological and psychological conditions. Understanding of its neurophysiological effects is essential for mechanistic study and treatment evaluation. This study investigated how transcranial laser stimulation influences cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation in the human brain in vivo using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). MATERIALS AND

methodsTwo separate experiments were conducted in which 1,064-nm laser stimulation was administered at (1) the center and (2) the right side of the forehead, respectively. The laser emitted at a power of 3.4 W and in an area of 13.6 cm2, corresponding to 0.25 W/cm2 irradiance. Stimulation duration was 10 minutes. Nine healthy male and female human participants of any ethnic background, in an age range of 18-40 years old were included in each experiment.

resultsIn both experiments, transcranial laser stimulation induced an increase of oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbO2 ]) and a decrease of deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[Hb]) in both cerebral hemispheres. Improvements in cerebral oxygenation were indicated by a significant increase of differential hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbD] = Δ[HbO2 ] - Δ[Hb]). These effects increased in a dose-dependent manner over time during laser stimulation (10 minutes) and persisted after laser stimulation (6 minutes). The total hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbT] = Δ[HbO2] + Δ[Hb]) remained nearly unchanged in most cases.

conclusionNear-infrared laser stimulation applied to the forehead can transcranially improve cerebral oxygenation in healthy humans.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultBiomarkersBrainFemaleHealthy VolunteersHemodynamicsHemoglobinsHumansLow-Level Light TherapyMaleOxygenSpectroscopy, Near-InfraredYoung AdultBiomarkersHemoglobinsOxygenbrain tissue oxygenationfunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)low-level laser therapy (LLLT)photobiomodulation

Identifiers

PMID26817446
PMCPMC5066697
OpenAlexW2239895664

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.