Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27267860›Full record

Trial reportBrain stimulation

Transcranial Laser Stimulation as Neuroenhancement for Attention Bias Modification in Adults with Elevated Depression Symptoms.

Seth G Disner, Christopher G Beevers, Francisco Gonzalez-Lima

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07133893 (Effects of Transcranial Photobiomodulation and Attention Bias Modification on Anxiety Symptoms and Brain Hemodynamics), which is not on this map. Cited by 50 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
50citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT07133893 narecruitingnot on this map

Effects of Transcranial Photobiomodulation and Attention Bias Modification on Anxiety Symptoms and Brain Hemodynamics

TypeinterventionalSponsorFrancisco Gonzalez-Lima, PhDRan2025 to 2028Enrolled280ConditionsSymptoms of AnxietyArmsAttention bias assessment and modification, Transcranial photobiomodulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

50 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. Efficacy of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on Depressive Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis.Photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery · 2023
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  13. Photobiomodulation improves the frontal cognitive function of older adults.International journal of geriatric psychiatry · 2019
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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

3 authors.

Seth G DisnerDepartment of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Christopher G BeeversDepartment of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. Electronic address: beevers@utexas.edu.
Francisco Gonzalez-LimaDepartment of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.

Funding

Genetic Influences on Dual Processing Modes of Reward and Punishment LearningR01DA032457 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI BEEVERS, CHRISTOPHER G · 2012 to 2016
$2.2M
Attention Training for Major Depressive DisorderR21MH092430 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI BEEVERS, CHRISTOPHER G · 2010 to 2011
$421k
NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA032457NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH092430
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow-level light therapy (LLLT) with transcranial laser is a non-invasive form of neuroenhancement shown to regulate neuronal metabolism and cognition. Attention bias modification (ABM) is a cognitive intervention designed to improve depression by decreasing negative attentional bias, but to date its efficacy has been inconclusive. Adjunctive neuroenhancement to augment clinical effectiveness has shown promise, particularly for individuals who respond positively to the primary intervention. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: This randomized, sham-controlled proof-of-principle study is the first to test the hypothesis that augmentative LLLT will improve the effects of ABM among adults with elevated symptoms of depression.

methodsFifty-one adult participants with elevated symptoms of depression received ABM before and after laser stimulation and were randomized to one of three conditions: right forehead, left forehead, or sham. Participants repeated LLLT two days later and were assessed for depression symptoms one and two weeks later.

resultsA significant three-way interaction between LLLT condition, ABM response, and time indicated that right LLLT led to greater symptom improvement among participants whose attention was responsive to ABM (i.e., attention was directed away from negative stimuli). Minimal change in depression was observed in the left and sham LLLT.

conclusionsThe beneficial effects of ABM on depression symptoms may be enhanced when paired with adjunctive interventions such as right prefrontal LLLT; however, cognitive response to ABM likely moderates the impact of neuroenhancement. The results suggest that larger clinical trials examining the efficacy of using photoneuromodulation to augment cognitive training are warranted.

Indexed as

Attentional BiasAdolescentAttentionDepressionDepressive DisorderFemaleHumansLow-Level Light TherapyMaleNeuropsychological TestsTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultAttention bias modificationBrain stimulationCognitionDepressionLasersPhotobiomodulation

Identifiers

PMID27267860
PMCPMC5007141

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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.