ArticleGeroScience2026
Frequency-specific photobiomodulation at theta and gamma enhances cognitive networks and mitigates age-related decline.
Article in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive strategy to enhance cognitive function, yet the effects of stimulation frequency remain unclear. We applied pulsed 810 nm PBM at 5 Hz or 40 Hz to the frontal cortex of adult rats, and 40 Hz PBM to aged rats. In young adults, both stimulation frequencies enhanced cognitive flexibility, and in aged rats 40 Hz PBM improved learning speed. In terms of brain changes, we studied cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity, c-Fos expression and protein levels. We observed a decrease in the prefrontal CCO activity in adults, and an increase in prefrontal c-Fos expression, both with 40 Hz. Regarding protein levels in young rats, 5 Hz PBM reduced pERK expression in the hippocampus and p38 in the prefrontal cortex, while regulating interleukins and cytokines in these regions. Additionally, 5 Hz upregulated Synapsin-I expression in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and increased PSD-95 levels selectively in the hippocampus, highlighting its role in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. Notably, 5 Hz also increased GFAP expression in both regions, and selectively upregulated NF-κB expression. 40 Hz PBM reduced pERK expression in the hippocampus and p38 in the prefrontal cortex, also modulating interleukins and cytokines in these areas. Additionally, 40 Hz increased p38 expression in the hippocampus and reduced p53 and BAX levels in the prefrontal cortex. Also, 40 Hz upregulated Synapsin-I in both regions and increased PSD-95 expression in both the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. As observed with 5 Hz, 40 Hz also elevated GFAP expression in both regions. In aged rats, PBM reduced Iba-1 in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, enhanced NeuN in prefrontal cortex, and decreased p38 and BCL-2 in the hippocampus. Collectively, these results demonstrate frequency-dependent modulation of neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity, and apoptosis, while highlighting the beneficial effects of 40 Hz PBM in aged subjects, supporting PBM as a targeted approach to improve cognitive function across the lifespan.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.