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High-frequency visual stimulation can increase medial temporal lobe ripple oscillation density
Julian Keil1,2,3, Victor Hernandez-Urbina4, Liam Doherty4,5
1University of Potsdam, Department of Psychology, Potsdam, Germany. julian.keil@uni-potsdam.de.
Communications Medicine
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Ultra-high frequency visual stimulation increased sharp-wave ripples in the hippocampus. This noninvasive technique may enhance memory by influencing these neural oscillations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Neural oscillations, particularly in the ripple band (80-180 Hz), are implicated in brain activity.
- Ripple oscillations occur in the neocortex and hippocampus, synchronizing across distances.
- Neocortical ripples often precede hippocampal ripples, suggesting a potential propagation pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if neocortical ripple oscillations induced by visual stimulation can trigger hippocampal ripple oscillations.
- To explore the use of ultra-high frequency visual stimulation to increase the abundance of hippocampal sharp-wave ripples during wakefulness.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory study involving 8 human participants with implanted electrodes near the hippocampus.
- Utilized ultra-high frequency visual stimulation to evoke neural oscillations.
- Compared the frequency of sharp-wave ripples during visual stimulation to an eyes-open resting-state baseline.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in sharp-wave ripples per second was observed during visual stimulation compared to baseline periods.
- This preliminary study provides evidence for the induction of hippocampal sharp-wave ripples via visual input.
Conclusions:
- Ultra-high frequency visual stimulation can safely and noninvasively influence sharp-wave ripples.
- This method holds potential for therapeutic applications, such as memory enhancement.