Everything you need to know about Photobiomodulation with VieLight

VieLight is a cutting-edge cognitive device which uses low level laser therapy to boost your brain health and benefit day-to-day cognition.

Are you a busy professional, worried you can’t complete tasks as quickly or efficiently as your peers? Or someone entering their golden years, concerned about memory loss and staying sharp as you age? 

Whether you have specific concerns about your cognitive health or you just want to keep your brain operating in top shape, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re making it easier than ever to 

take steps to transform your cognitive health, so you can optimize your brain and your life. 

At RBI, we offer services with a number of cutting-edge cognitive devices designed to make improving your brain quick and easy. Today, we’ll introduce you to brain photobiomodulation using  VieLight: what it is, how it works, and how it can benefit your cognition.

What is VieLight?

VieLight is a device worn on top of the head similar to a headband or helmet, with an additional clip placed on one nostril. The headpiece (aka the transcranial system) focuses on the dorsal brain area, and the nose clip (aka the intranasal system) focuses on the ventral brain area.

What’s with the nose clip?

Wearing a headpiece to improve your cognition probably seems intuitive enough. But what about the nose clip?

VieLight's intranasal system helps it expand the reach (and benefits) to different areas of the brain. The pathway up through the nostril provides access to the ventral area (underside) of the brain, as well as a more direct path to other key areas, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. The design combines cutting-edge neuroscience with engineering to maximize the benefits of photobiomodulation technology. 

What does a typical session look like?

One of the reasons VieLight is such an appealing way to improve your cognition is that its sessions are quick, lasting usually 20 minutes at a time. During a session, you will wear the headpiece and nose clip for the time designated by our staff, while certain areas of your brain are stimulated with light to address your specific cognitive needs.

How does VieLight work?

VieLight delivers a series of near-infrared (NIR) light energy pulses to stimulate different areas of the brain. This process is known as photobiomodulation, or low level laser therapy. This noninvasive treatment can improve brain health by reducing inflammation, repairing damaged cells, and increasing neuron connectivity. When focused on specific areas of the brain, photobiomodulation can improve different aspects of cognition.

Low level laser therapy 

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is a noninvasive treatment method. The lasers used by VieLight are a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic energy, and don’t emit heat. While there are several different kinds of light on the electromagnetic spectrum, VieLight uses NIR because the specific wavelengths allow for maximum depth of penetration into brain tissue. 

NIR also yields the greatest response from mitochondria out of the entire electromagnetic spectrum - important for how VieLight aids cognition. When stimulated by NIR light, the mitochondria in our cells absorb the light energy and convert it to cellular energy, known as ATP. The process creates mild oxidants (ROS), which leads to gene transcription and then to natural cellular repair and healing. 

Finally, NIR can help dissolve buildups of nitric oxide in the brain. Nitric oxide aids in the process of cellular communication, as well as blood vessel dilation and blood circulation. However, an excess of nitric oxide can be toxic to cells and lead to neurodegeneration. Photobiomodulation can “unclog” areas of accumulated nitric oxide and disperse it back into our system for use elsewhere.

VieLight can emit light pulses at different frequencies as well, in order to stimulate different kinds of brain waves. At a frequency of 10 Hz, VieLight mimics calming alpha waves; at 40 Hz, focus-improving gamma waves.

Targeting the brain’s Default Mode Network

To target specific elements of cognition, VieLight focuses on stimulating the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN), a network of highly connected brain regions responsible for key aspects of cognition. 

Here are some of the regions within the DMN, and what aspects of cognition each correspond to.

• Medial prefrontal cortex: Located in the brain's frontal lobe (behind the forehead), this region regulates attention, inhibitory control, habit formation, and spatial and long-term memory.
• Ventromedial prefrontal cortex: Located in the brain's frontal lobe (behind the eyes and nose), this region regulates decision-making, self-control, and emotional responses.
• Precuneus: Located in the brain's superior parietal lobe (just beneath the crown of the head), this region regulates motor coordination, as well as spatial, episodic, and source memory.
• Inferior parietal lobule: Located in the left and right sides near the back of the brain, this region regulates language, mathematical operations, and pattern learning.
• Posterior cingulate cortex: Located near the center of the brain, this region acts as a central node of the brain involved in many cognitive functions, including spatial and working memory.
• Temporal lobes: Located on the left and right sides of the brain (behind the ears), this region processes key sensory inputs for visual and auditory processing, language comprehension, and visual memory.
• Hippocampus: Located within the temporal lobes, the hippocampus plays an important role in short- and long-term memory. It's one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Essentially, VieLight works by targeting different areas of the brain with light at different wavelengths. Photobiomodulation can be used to improve neuron connectivity and blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and help repair damaged brain cells. This in turn can improve your brain’s ability to complete its essential functions. 

What are the benefits of brain photobiomodulation using VieLight?

Sessions of photobiomodulation using VieLight can have many cognitive benefits, including improving the physical health of the brain and acting as a preventative step to ward off neurological disease and memory disorders. The different types of light waves can also be used to relax or energize our minds.

Here are some of the various cognitive benefits of photobiomodulation:

Physical benefits

• Reduced inflammation. Photobiomodulation can help reduce tissue inflammation, which is crucial for cognitive health. Chronic neuroinflammation is associated with memory decline, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia, as well as neurological disorders such as Parkinson's.
• Improved healing. Low level laser therapy can also increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the mitochondria. ROS play an important role in facilitating cellular communication, including supporting our immune system response. So, photobiomodulation can foster faster natural healing in the brain. 
• Improved neural connectivity. Many neurological disorders and cognitive challenges occur because of decreased connectivity between brain regions or deteriorating neural pathways. VieLight can stimulate and improve neural connectivity.

Mental and emotional benefits

• Reduced anxiety. Alpha waves have a calming effect, providing relief from feelings of anxiety.
• Fewer emotional outbursts. People participating in low level laser therapy reported more stable moods and fewer outbursts of anger.

Functional benefits

• Improved focus and concentration. Gamma wave stimulation can make you feel more focused and less distracted.
• Reduced stress. Relaxing alpha waves will leave you feeling less stressed 
• Greater mental acuity and clarity. The combination of gamma wave stimulation and the physical effects of photobiomodulation can provide a greater sense of clarity and mental acuity, allowing you to quickly and efficiently switch between tasks. 

Testimonials

Here is some feedback from people who have used VieLight to improve their brain health and day-to-day cognitive function.

Is VieLight right for my cognitive health?

At RBI, we approach cognitive care from a holistic point of view. We know many factors combine to contribute to our overall brain health and cognitive ability. Because everyone’s lifestyle and medical background are different, the best ways to benefit your brain can vary from person to person. VieLight may be the right choice for your cognitive health if…

• You have difficulty concentrating on tasks, paying attention to instructions, or focusing for longer than a short period of time.
• You feel like it takes you longer than your peers to process and understand information.
• You experience moderate to high levels of stress or anxiety regularly.
• You’re concerned about neuroinflammation, or other physical challenges to your brain’s health.
• You want to improve your general cognitive abilities, but you don't have a lot of time in your busy schedule to do so.

If you have any specific cognitive concerns, feel free to discuss them with us. We can let you know how VieLight can help!

More options to improve your cognitive health

Looking for more ways to boost your brain? Here are a few of our other services, which can be used alone or along with VieLight.

Acoustic Flow Chair - The Acoustic Flow Chair features a four-channel stereo visual display, immersion headphones, and vibrating transducers which work in harmony to help users see, hear, and feel auditory signals. It creates a full-body experience for Sound Frequency Healing Therapy which promotes entering a flow state. This reduces stress, boosts your mood, and improves overall cognition. You can learn more about the Acoustic Flow Chair here.

NeuroFlow Foundations - NeuroFlow Foundations is a subscription-based service that provides you with our specific tips and tricks to improve your cognitive health, without the need for a consultation with a physician or a commitment to a long-term care program. We send you practical methods and exercises to improve your brain function directly to your inbox each month. Combining VieLight sessions with a NeuroFlow Foundations subscription is a great way to stay on top of your brain health, without having to commit to an intensive cognitive care treatment regimen.

My RBI Cognitive Journey - My RBI Cognitive Journey is our most hands-on, comprehensive cognitive healthcare program. Following your consultation and basic health and cognitive fitness assessments with one of our experienced physicians, we create a six-month treatment program where we work with you 1:1 to radically improve your brain health. Combining VieLight sessions with My RBI Cognitive Journey is a great way to fully optimize your cognitive health.

VieLight FAQs

What happens when I use VieLight?

During a session, you will wear the VieLight headpiece and intranasal clip. Based on your cognitive needs, an RBI professional will calibrate the device to emit the appropriate form of NIR light stimulation.

Who can use VieLight?

VieLight is safe for most adults and cognitive health levels. However, individuals with photosensitive conditions should discuss with their doctors before using VieLight. In general, VieLight is best for people looking for a quick and easy cognition-boosting experience.

How long does a session with VieLight last?

Sessions last 20 minutes.

How does VieLight benefit my brain?

VieLight works through the process of low light laser therapy or photobiomodulation. The headset and nose piece direct near-infrared light at specific wavelengths into different areas of the brain. The light stimulates the brain cells, reducing inflammation and improving neuron connectivity, boosting cognition.

Where can I learn more about VieLight and its effect on cognition?

You can visit www.vielight.com for more information about the science behind the device, studies into its effect on cognition, and more.

Ready to shine a light on your cognitive health?

No matter the health challenge you face, healing begins with your decision to actively engage with your health. Committing to a VieLight session is a great start. If you’re ready to learn more about how a session with a cognitive device can boost your brain and benefit your day-to-day cognition, get in touch with us today to set up an appointment.