fMRI Study Finally Confirms That Brain Tissue is Responsive to Light

OULU, Finland, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

– Brand new research findings from Finland published in a peer-reviewed medical
journal

A recent placebo-controlled study reveals new evidence of trans-cranial bright light’s
effect to brain functions when administered through the ear. Bright light stimulation was
found to increase activity in brain areas related to processing of visual sensory
information and tactile stimuli. The findings constitute the first ever published
scientific article about functional modulation of the brain with bright light delivered to
the brain through the ears. The study was published today May 29th, 2012 in the World
Journal of Neuroscience.

“The research results confirm that it is possible to influence brain functions with
bright light delivered directly to the brain through the ear,” says researcher TuomoStarck
from the Oulu University Hospital. “The group that received bright light demonstrated in
the analysis significant increase in neural network activity especially in brain areas
connected with visual perception.”

The study was conducted with 51 healthy test subjects, utilizing functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI). Some of the test subjects were given bright light into the ear
canals with an optical fibre, and for others the light source was switched off. The eyes
of the test subjects were covered during the study so that they were unable to determine
which group they belonged to. Optical fiber did not warm up from the influence of light.
The study setting was typical for brain imaging, and corresponds with a placebo controlled
setting. Real time functions of the brain’s resting state neural networks were measured in
the study with fMRI, making it possible to locate the regions of the brain where the
amount of blood and its oxygen saturation change as a result of intervention; in this case
as a result of bright light.

“There is earlier proof of the existence of photosensitive proteins, such as opsins,
in the brain. This study confirms light-responsiveness of the brain itself, and that
bright light given through the ear canal is a very viable method for influencing mood,”
says Professor and Leading Senior Physician Timo Takala from Oulu Deaconess Institute.

According to a second, closely related research result by Oulu University researchers,
presented in March at the European Congress of Psychiatry, the human brain contains large
amounts of photosensitive OPN4 (melanopsin) receptor protein. The clinical efficacy of
bright light therapy for mood disorders when administered through the eye is believed to
be based on the photosensitive OPN4-protein that has earlier been found only on the
retina.

“Discovery of the photosensitive OPN4-protein in several parts of the human brain adds
to the body of evidence that bright light channeled to the brain directly – and not only
through the eyes – increases the activity of brain functions,” comments Chief Science
Officer Juuso Nissila from the Finnish company Valkee Oy.

Bright light is widely recognized as an effective therapy for treating Seasonal
Affective Disorder. The Valkee bright light headset is based on the latest research
findings regarding photosensitivity of the brain: bright light is channeled through the
ear canal directly to those brain areas that are known to be central in depression, and
that have been discovered in studies at the Oulu University to contain photosensitive
proteins.

A link to the article:

http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=19417

Valkee Oy is a health technology company founded in 2007 that has developed a bright
light headset device for treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The knowhow of the
company is based on long term scientific research and development work together with the
Oulu University. For more information on Valkee Oy see http://www.valkee.com or Valkee
Facebook-pages http://www.facebook.com/ValkeeCompany

        For more information:
        Professor, Leading Senior Physicist Timo Takala, Oulu Deaconess Institute,
         +358-50-312-6902, timo.takala@odl.fi
        Chief Science Officer Juuso Nissila, Valkee Oy, +358-40-701-9897,
         juuso.nissila@valkee.com

SOURCE Valkee