Photobiomodulation of the Human Cortex Using Infrared Laser Stimulation

Application of low level laser therapy (LLLT) for wound healing, inflammation and chronic pain relief has now widened to include neurological disorders such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases and the treatment of traumatic brain disorders (Hashmi et al, 2010). We applied LLLT at a wavelength of 810nm to 12 participants (5 male; age range: 23-31 years) for 10minutes to the primary motor cortex (M1). Single-pulse and paired-pulse measures of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were used to evaluate levels of cortical excitability. Initial effects of LLLT were first ascertained using single-pulse TMS before…