20 and 40-Hz Flickering-Light Stimulation Induces Changes in Functional Connectivity of Memory-Related Areas

Abstract

Flickering light stimulation has been recently introduced as a promising method for restoring the changes caused by Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we similarly explore the effect of flickering light stimulation on brain functional connectivity by conducting an experiment with healthy subjects at various light frequencies (rest, 20, 40, and 80 Hz). We examine the functional connectivity at the default mode network within seed-to-voxel analysis as well as specific brain regions related to memory within ROI-to-ROI analysis, and thus show induced changes in the connectivity of the middle temporal gyrus at 20 and 40-Hz flickering light frequencies.