Pulsed transcranial photobiomodulation evokes sustained, parameter-dependent changes in EEG oscillations that run opposite to frequency entrainment

Abstract

ObjectivesTranscranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) modulates cortical activity, but how specific stimulation parameters shape the electrophysiological response remains unclear. We tested whether pulsed forehead tPBM produces frequency band-specific EEG changes, whether pulsation frequency entrains endogenous oscillations, and whether wavelength, pulsation frequency, irradiance, sex, and skin tone significantly modulate the response. Materials and MethodsForty-six healthy young adults (24M/22F, 20-32 years) each completed four 12-minute EEG recordings (256-channel; PRE-DURING-POST, 4 min each) with pulsed NIR light delivered to the right forehead. The parameter space included two wavelengths (808 nm, 1064 nm), two pulsation frequencies (10 Hz, 40 Hz), and three irradiances (100, 150, 200 mW/cm2). Forehead skin tone (ITA) and sex were included as biological moderators. EEG band power (delta through gamma) was expressed as percent change from a pre-stimulus baseline. Spatiotemporal cluster-based permutation tests (10,000 permutations, FWER alpha=0.05) identified significant electrode clusters. Linear mixed-effects models with backward elimination and FDR correction (q=0.05) quantified parameter and biological contributions. ResultstPBM produced bilateral, bidirectional EEG changes: frontal gamma enhancement and posterior theta, alpha, and beta suppression, emerging gradually during stimulation and persisting post-stimulation. Wavelength qualitatively shaped the response: 808 nm drove broadband posterior suppression while 1064 nm selectively enhanced frontal gamma. Contrary to entrainment predictions, 10 Hz pulsation produced significantly larger gamma increases and theta reductions than 40 Hz. Sex was the most consistent biological modulator: females showed greater alpha suppression during stimulation and males showed greater posterior beta and gamma suppression. Irradiance and skin tone were not significant. ConclusionsPulsed forehead tPBM produces robust, parameter-dependent EEG changes that are not consistent with neural entrainment. Wavelength determines the character of the cortical response, pulsation frequency modulates its magnitude, potentially through photobiological rather than oscillatory mechanisms, and sex is a significant biological moderator. These findings contribute toward a human-specific foundation for informing optical tPBM parameter selection.