Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40668423›Full record

Trial reportLasers in medical science2025

Enhancing mathematical skills in children with dyscalculia: the effects of transcranial photobiomodulation.

Leyla Rastgar-Farajzadeh, Mohammad Ali Nazari, Karin Kucian, Tohid Jafari-Koshki, Maryam Moghadam Salimi, Abbas Ebrahimi-Kalan

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Lasers in medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Leyla Rastgar-FarajzadehResearch Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mohammad Ali NazariDepartment of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. nazari.moa@iums.ac.ir.
Karin KucianCenter for MR-Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Tohid Jafari-KoshkiMolecular Medicine Research Center, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faclty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Maryam Moghadam SalimiDepartment of Neurosciences and Cognition, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Abbas Ebrahimi-KalanDepartment of Neurosciences and Cognition, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. abbasebra@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dyscalculia is a specific learning disorder characterized by persistent difficulties in mathematical skills. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tPBM in treating numerical domains of dyscalculia, including number sense, calculation, mathematical reasoning, and general cognitive skills such as visuospatial memory and phonological processing in children. Twenty children aged 6 to 11 diagnosed with dyscalculia were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving tPBM or a control group. The intervention consisted of eight sessions over three weeks, utilizing a super-luminous multi-LED array emitting near-infrared light. To measure cognitive and mathematical performance, the KeyMath Diagnostic Assessment, Corsi block-tapping test, and Wechsler Supplementary Index Scales were used for pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments after one month. The characteristics of the intervention and control groups were assessed using the unpaired Mann-Whitney test. Compared to the control group, the intervention group exhibited significant improvements in number sense, calculation, mathematical reasoning, and visuospatial working memory. Improvements in phonological processing were also recorded, although the results were less conclusive. The findings suggest that tPBM alleviate symptoms of dyscalculia by enhancing specific and general cognitive skills. While the direct impact on mathematical learning requires further exploration, tPBM presents a promising, non-invasive therapeutic option for children with learning disabilities. Larger randomized controlled trials are recommended to validate these results and optimize treatment protocols.

Indexed as

DyscalculiaLow-Level Light TherapyChildCognitionFemaleHumansMaleMathematicsMemory, Short-TermCognitionDyscalculiaLearning disabilitiesLow-level light therapy

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.