40 Hz Light Flicker Alters Human Brain Electroencephalography Microstates and Complexity Implicated in Brain Diseases

Abstract

Previous studies showed that entrainment of light flicker at low gamma frequencies provided neuroprotection in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and stroke. The current study was set to explore the feasibility of using 40 Hz light flicker for human brain stimulation for future development as a tool for brain disease treatment. The effect of 40 Hz low gamma frequency light on a cohort of healthy human brains was examined using 64 channel electroencephalography (EEG), followed by microstate analyses. A random frequency light flicker was used as a negative control treatment. Light flicker at 40 Hz significantly increased the corresponding band power in the O1, Oz, and O3 electrodes covering the occipital areas of both sides of the brain, indicating potent entrainment with 40 Hz light flicker in the visual cortex area. Importantly, the 40 Hz light flicker significantly altered microstate coverage, transition duration, and the Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) compared to the rest state. Microstate metrics are known to change in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and stroke patients. The current study laid the foundation for the future development of 40 Hz light flicker as therapeutics for brain diseases.