Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

07:56
Photobiomodulation Under Electroencephalographic Controls of Sleep for Stimulation of Lymphatic Removal of Toxins from Mouse Brain
Published on: June 28, 2024
Photobiomodulation and sleep quality: systematic review and meta-analysis
Wellington Marcos Vital de Azevedo1, Kevlin de Souza1, Maria Luiza Defante1
1Hospital São Vicente de Paulo (HSVP), Bom Jesus do Itabapoana, Brazil.
Lasers in Medical Science
|June 20, 2026
Summary
Photobiomodulation (PBM) may improve sleep quality, according to a meta-analysis of clinical trials. This non-invasive light therapy showed benefits for sleep, but more research is needed to confirm efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are a growing public health concern, linked to brain metabolism and neuroinflammation.
- Photobiomodulation (PBM), using red or near-infrared light, shows potential for modulating brain function relevant to sleep.
Conclusions:
- PBM shows potential as a non-pharmacological intervention for improving sleep quality.
- Current evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity and requires cautious interpretation.
- Further large-scale, standardized trials are necessary to confirm efficacy and safety.
Related Concept Videos
Management of Insomnia
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...
Understanding Sleep
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Blind Procedures
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...

