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Light Penetration into Brain

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Photobiomodulation for the Brain

Part of the book series: Synthesis Lectures on Biomedical Engineering ((SLBE))

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Abstract

This chapter explores the critical aspect of light penetration into the brain, which is essential for understanding the therapeutic potential of photobiomodulation (PBM). It discusses the absorption features of biological tissue components, the penetration profiles of scalp, skull, and brain tissues, and concludes with remarks on penetration depth. Section 1 introduces the concept of light penetration in the context of brain PBM, highlighting its importance for effective treatment outcomes. Section 2 delves into the absorption features of biological tissue components, explaining how various chromophores and tissue structures impact the transmission of light through the scalp, skull, and brain. Section 3 focuses on light penetration profiles of scalp and skull tissues. Data from animal studies (3.1) and human studies (3.2) are presented, with laboratory and simulation data offering a comprehensive understanding of light transmission through these tissues. Section 4 examines light penetration profiles of brain tissues, again drawing on data from both animal (4.1) and human (4.2) studies. The laboratory and simulation data provide insights into how light interacts with the brain’s complex structure and the factors that influence penetration depth. Section 5 concludes the chapter with remarks on penetration depth, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate wavelengths and treatment parameters to ensure optimal light penetration for effective PBM therapy. Overall, this chapter offers a thorough analysis of light penetration into the brain, equip** readers with the knowledge necessary to design and evaluate brain PBM treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College for Light Medicine and Photobiomodulation, Starnberg, Germany

    Farzad Salehpour

  2. Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 5166614756, Tabriz, Iran

    Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad & Javad Mahmoudi

  3. Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany

    Farzin Kamari

  4. Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA

    Paolo Cassano

  5. Faculty of Health Science, Laser Research Centre, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

    Michael Richard Hamblin

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  1. Farzad Salehpour
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  2. Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad
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Salehpour, F., Sadigh-Eteghad, S., Mahmoudi, J., Kamari, F., Cassano, P., Hamblin, M.R. (2023). Light Penetration into Brain. In: Photobiomodulation for the Brain. Synthesis Lectures on Biomedical Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36231-6_3

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