Novel Invisible Spectral Flicker Induces 40 Hz Neural Entrainment with Similar Spatial Distribution as 40 Hz Stroboscopic Light

Mikkel Pejstrup Agger*, Marcus Schultz Carstensen, Mark Alexander Henney, Luna Skytte Hansen, Anders Ohlhues Baandrup, Mai Nguyen, Paul Michael Petersen, Kristoffer Hougaard Madsen, Troels Wesenberg Kjær*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftArtikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure to 40 Hz stroboscopic light, for one hour a day, has previously been published as a potential treatment option for Alzheimer's disease in animal models. However, exposure for an hour a day to 40 Hz stroboscopic light can be strenuous and examining other types of 40 Hz inducing stimuli is paramount if chronic treatment is wanted.

OBJECTIVE: A core assumption behind ensuring a therapeutic outcome is that the visual stimuli can induce 40 Hz gamma entrainment. Here, we examine whether a specific visual stimulus, 40 Hz invisible spectral flicker (ISF), can induce gamma entrainment and how it differs from both continuous light (CON) and 40 Hz stroboscopic light (STROBE).

METHODS: The study included non-simultaneous EEG-fMRI neuroimaging of 13 young healthy volunteers during light exposure. Each light condition (i.e., CON, ISF, or STROBE) was active for 30 seconds followed immediately by the next.

RESULTS: Entrainment of 40 Hz neural activity were significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio during exposure to ISF (mean: 3.03, 95% CI 2.07 to 3.99) and STROBE (mean: 12.04, 95% CI 10.18 to 13.87) compared to CON. Additionally STROBE had a higher entrainment than ISF (mean: 9.01, 95% CI 7.16 to 12.14).

CONCLUSION: This study presents a novel method of 40 Hz entrainment using ISF. This enables the possibility of future randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials with acceptable double blinding due to the essentially imperceivable flicker, which is expected to substantially reduce discomfort compared to interventions with stroboscopic flicker.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Sider (fra-til)335-344
Antal sider10
TidsskriftJournal of Alzheimer's Disease
Vol/bind88
Udgave nummer1
Tidlig onlinedato13 maj 2022
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

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