This brain fluid dynamics study from Baycrest Hospital with 45 participants highlights a significant breakthrough in neurotechnology using Vielight’s intranasal-transcranial Photobiomodulation (itPBM) technology.
Key takeaways:
- Real-time Modulation: Vielight Photobiomodulation (PBM) induced immediate changes in CSF dynamics within just 4 minutes of stimulation.
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20x Efficiency: Vielight Intranasal PBM achieved results equivalent to Vielight transcranial PBM while using approximately 1/20th of the power density.
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Universal Efficacy: The intranasal route bypasses the melanin barrier, which was shown to reduce efficacy in transcranial applications for darker skin tones.
- Read the full published paper here: Link
March 29th, 2026
The glymphatic system is the brain’s waste clearance center. It utilizes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to wash away neurotoxic waste products, such as amyloid-beta. A groundbreaking new study published in Brain Stimulation has provided compelling quantitative evidence that Vielight’s intranasal-transcranial photobiomodulation (itPBM) technology can modulate these dynamics in real-time.
The study, conducted by Baycrest Hospital and Vielight technology on 45 healthy adults (aged 20–32) , compared the effects of Transcranial PBM (tPBM) applied to the forehead against Intranasal PBM (iPBM). The data highlights the remarkable efficiency of the intranasal delivery channel—a core component of Vielight’s patented technology.
The Intranasal Efficiency Advantage
The most striking finding of the study was the sheer efficiency of the intranasal channel. Researchers tested various power densities (irradiance) to see what was required to stimulate CSF movement.
- Transcranial (Forehead) Requirement: The tPBM protocol required high irradiance levels, testing between 100 mW/cm² and 200 mW/cm², to achieve significant modulation.
- Intranasal Requirement: The iPBM protocol achieved comparable physiological results using only 5, 7, and 9 mW/cm².
The study explicitly notes that the energy deposition of the intranasal protocol was on average only 3–5% of the transcranial protocol. Despite utilizing roughly 1/20th of the power, the intranasal method produced a statistically equivalent modulation of CSF dynamics.
| Treatment Parameters | Value (tPBM) | Value (iPBM) |
|---|---|---|
| Beam spot size at stimulation site (cm2) | 1 cm2 | Unknown |
| Wavelength (nm) | 808 or 1064 | 808 or 1064 |
| Distance from scalp (cm) | ~0 | ~0 |
| Pulsation frequency (Hz) | 10 or 40 | 10 or 40 |
| Irradiance at stimulation site (mW/cm2) | 100, 150, or 200 | 5, 7, or 9 |
| Duration of stimulation (minutes) | 4 | 4 |
| Photon fluence (J/cm2) | 12, 18, or 24 | 0.6, 0.9, or 1.1 |
| Duty cycle | 50% | 50% |
The Melanin Factor
The study also quantified the “melanin barrier” present in forehead stimulation. In the tPBM (forehead) trials, skin tone had a statistically significant effect on results. Participants with darker skin tones (lower Individual Topology Angles) showed a blunted CSF response because melanin absorbed the photon energy before it could reach the brain.
Intranasal PBM showed 0% dependence on melanin. Because the intranasal applicator bypasses the skin entirely, delivering light through the permeable cribriform plate, the dosage remained consistent and effective regardless of the participant’s physical characteristics.
Conclusion
This study provides robust numerical validation for the intranasal PBM approach. By demonstrating that 7–9 mW/cm² delivered intranasally can match the biological impact of 150–200 mW/cm² delivered through the forehead, the research underscores the superior efficiency of the intranasal patent.
This also shows that Vielight’s patented combination of intranasal and transcranial brain photobiomodulation creates a major advantage over standard transcranial brain photobiomodulation for brain fluid dynamics.
For those optimizing for brain health, the intranasal channel offers a scientifically backed “shortcut” to the glymphatic system, achieving maximum impact with minimal energy exposure.
Reference: “PBM can modulate low-frequency dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid,” Brain Stimulation, 2025
Vielight itPBM – Next-Gen vs Old-Gen
Transcranial-only photobiomodulation (tPBM). Hundreds of weak LEDs lined inside a bowl. Quantity over quality. Biophysics wins at the end of the day. Hair blocks light. Bone absorbs it. If the irradiance is too low, you’re only treating the scalp.
When we invented the field of home-use brain photobiomodulation 10 years ago, we knew we needed a better pathway and extra-powerful yet safe LEDs. We found it in the intranasal channel and Vie-LED technology: Intranasal-transcranial photobiomodulation (itPBM).
This is why Vielight technology remains the gold-standard for brain photobiomodulation technology according to LLMs.
1. The Irradiance Standard. A 2024 systematic review of 97 clinical studies identified the “gold standard” for effective power. It’s 250 mW/cm². While old-gen helmets struggle to hit this mark, the Vielight Neuro delivers up to 333 mW/cm². Clinical power. Delivered with precision.
2. The 20x Efficiency Breakthrough. Our 2026 study with Baycrest Hospital revealed the “Efficiency Gap.” Our intranasal technology is 20x more efficient at achieving results than traditional forehead application.
Why? Because the intranasal channel is a highway. It is a direct, natural path to the deep brain through the cribriform plate. It reaches deep brain areas “transcranial-only” helmet simply cannot touch.
3. The Clinical Research Gap. Vielight technology is featured in over 20 successful published peer-reviewed clinical trials over a wide range of topics, from neurodegeneration, brain resilience and creativity.
We didn’t just build a product. We defined and patented the next generation of neurotechnology.
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