Multiple Brain Imaging Studies Reveal Network and Neuroprotective Effects of Vielight itPBM
- Healthy adults – Neuromodulation and DMN deactivation during a task (Study Link)
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s – Perfusion and DMN connectivity at rest (Study Link)
- Traumatic brain injury – Cerebellar network efficiency in ex-football players (Study Link)
- Traumatic brain injury (DTI) – Neuroprotective effects (Research Summary Link)
April 30th, 2026
Multiple independent research studies indicate that Vielight’s intranasal-transcranial PBM (itPBM) is more powerful and comprehensive than standard tPBM.
Brain imaging studies from the University of Sydney, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and the University of Utah are showing that Vielight itPBM doesn’t just act locally like tPBM.
Vielight itPBM appears to reshape how large-scale brain networks behave – especially the Default Mode Network (DMN) and also trigger neuroprotective effects.
The Vielight Neuro 4’s geometry is engineered to intentionally overlap these broadened fields over Default Mode Network (DMN) nodes with the highest measured irradiance in commercially available brain photobiomodulation devices, while still bathing the wider cortex. This is why just five VieLED modules can produce an effect that is effectively full‑transcranial and subcortical (intranasal), with a focus on the DMN.
In many neurological conditions – including Alzheimer’s disease and TBI – research indicates this network shows abnormal connectivity and dysregulated activity.
Imaging Study 1 (MRI): DMN Efficiency
Study: (Link)
El Khoury, H., Mitrofanis, J., & Henderson, L. A. (2019) – The University of Sydney
“Exploring the Effects of Near Infrared Light on Resting and Evoked Brain Activity in Humans Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging” (Neuroscience).
The Study: Researchers tested Vielight itPBM on 24 healthy young adults to see how it affects their brains while resting and while doing a simple task.
The Results: Vielight itPBM didn’t change the brain while it was just resting. However, the moment the participants started the task, the therapy helped “quiet down” the parts of the brain that cause distractions.
Why it Matters: A healthy brain needs to stop daydreaming (the “default mode network”) when it’s time to work. This study shows that itPBM acts like a smart volume knob – it doesn’t hype up a resting brain, but it helps mute background noise the moment you need to focus on a task.
Imaging Study 2 (fMRI): Perfusion and DMN connectivity in dementia
Study: (Link)
Chao, L. L. (2019) – University of California San Francisco
“Effects of Home Photobiomodulation Treatments on Cognitive and Behavioral Function, Cerebral Perfusion, and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot Trial”
The Study: Researchers worked with seniors (average age 80) to see how Vielight itPBM affects the aging brain, divided into placebo and active groups.
The Results:
The active Vielight itPBM group showed better blood flow in the parts of the brain the device was touching. Even more importantly, the Vielight Neuro strengthened the brain’s “internal wiring”. This is a big deal because those specific connections are usually the first to break down in people with Alzheimer’s or age-related memory loss.
The Big Picture:
Vielight itPBM acts like a smart regulator:
- In young, healthy brains: It helps “mute” the background noise so the person can focus on a task.
- In older, struggling brains: It helps “boost” the signal and reconnect parts of the brain that are drifting apart.
Imaging Study 3 (fMRI). Cerebellar network efficiency after repetitive head impacts
Study: (Link)
Wilde et al. (2025) – The University of Utah (Neurology) – 49 participants
“Improvements in Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Cerebellum after Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Adults with a History of Repetitive Head Acceleration Events” and published in Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery.
The Study: Researchers at the University of Utah looked at 49 adults who had experienced repeated head impacts and were struggling with long-term symptoms. They used fMRI scans to see how Vielight itPBM affected how cerebellum-related networks inter-communicated to manage focus, emotions, and physical movement.
The Results:
Scans showed that the brain became much more organized. The therapy reduced “noisy crosstalk” between different brain departments while strengthening the internal connections within each department. This is called network segregation – it’s the difference between a chaotic room where everyone is shouting at once and an efficient office where each team can focus on their specific job.
The Big Picture: Think of the brain like a busy restaurant:
- Before therapy: The kitchen, the servers, and the customers are all shouting over each other. It’s loud, confusing, and mistakes happen.
- After therapy: The “background noise” is turned down. The kitchen staff can hear each other perfectly, and the servers can focus on their tables without being distracted by the dish pit.
By untangling these signals, the therapy helps the brain stop wasting energy on “noise” and start using it for coordination, balance, and clear thinking.
The Vielight Neuro is able to flood the underside of the brain through the intranasal channel, reaching the cerebellum, while the Neuro’s transcranial LEDs also target the cerebellum from the topside. This enables the Vielight Neuro to bathe the cerebellum with NIR energy from two angles, effectively improving its networking ability.
Imaging Study 4 (Advanced DTI). Groundbreaking itPBM Neuroprotective Effects
Study: (Link) | U of Utah Neurology Department Press Release: (Link)
Wilde et al. (2026), University of Utah’s Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center – Transcranial Photobiomodulation Promotes Neurological Resilience in Current Collegiate American Football Players Exposed to Repetitive Head Acceleration Events and published in Journal of Neurotrauma.
The Study: The University of Utah group studied 26 active NCAA Division I football players during a full 16-week season to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of itPBM against repetitive head acceleration events (RHAE).
Researchers employed advanced diffusion MRI, specifically focusing on Restricted Diffusion Imaging (RDI) and Quantitative Anisotropy (QA), to track microstructural changes and neuroinflammation in the brain’s white matter.
The Results:
The sham group showed a significant increase in neuroinflammatory markers and axonal remodeling, particularly within the “Cone of Vulnerability” – deep brain regions like the midbrain and thalamus that are most susceptible to rotational forces.
In contrast, the active Vielight itPBM group exhibited remarkable neurological resilience, showing no significant increases in these markers and, in some regions, a decrease in inflammation. Essentially, itPBM acted as a cellular shield, mitigating the cumulative damage of sub-concussive hits and preserving the structural integrity of deep-brain survival centers throughout the season.
Putting it all together: A network-level view of PBM
From a research perspective, these imaging results tell a consistent story even though the populations and outcomes differ:
- Healthy brains: during tasks, itPBM helps turn down DMN-like activity so task-relevant circuits can dominate.
- Alzheimer’s/dementia: at rest, itPBM is associated with stronger DMN connectivity and better perfusion where it’s often lacking, paralleling cognitive and behavioral gains in a small pilot.
- Post-impact brains: itPBM correlates with cleaner network boundaries—less random cross-talk, more internal coherence—which maps onto the kinds of attentional and executive symptoms people report after repetitive head impacts.
Vielight technology doesn’t appear to simply excite tissue from a research perspective. It also has groundbreaking neuroprotective effects and helps large-scale systems behave more appropriately for the context—idle when idling, engaged when engaging.
These articles might interest you
