Lighting up brain circuits
Lighting the Path to Wellness: How Light Impacts Your Brain and Body
Over a decade ago, I was in a neuroscience lab where researchers were investigating the effects of red and blue lights on the brain. I knew light played a role in how we feel and function, but it wasn’t until I saw those bright blue lights on people’s faces that I realized just how profound its impact could be. Since then, our understanding has grown significantly. For example, photoreceptors in the retina can respond to light even when we don’t consciously perceive it—some people born blind still have their circadian rhythms influenced by light. That’s right, light can quietly nudge our internal clocks even when we don’t know it’s there.
The Rise of Light Therapy in Wellness
Light therapy has gained serious traction over the years, with everything from red light hats for hair growth to full-body infrared (IR) treatments entering the wellness mainstream. Admittedly, I was skeptical about IR at first. But research shows that specific wavelengths, like infrared, can stimulate our cells’ mitochondria—those tiny powerhouses that fuel our cells. This process, called photobiomodulation, can potentially support energy levels and cellular health.
And it’s not just IR—rhythmic flashing patterns of light are getting a lot of attention lately, too. Think of it this way: if your brain circuits were a room full of tuning forks, only the ones tuned to the right frequency would start to vibrate when exposed to that frequency. In the same way, certain frequencies of light and sound can activate particular neural pathways, including the ones responsible for clearing waste in the brain.
Tuning Into the Right Frequencies
While our brains may make up just 2% of our body weight, they demand about 20% of our energy. It’s like having a high-performance engine that constantly needs fine-tuning. As we think, learn, and process, our neurons burn through a lot of energy, leaving behind metabolic waste. Thankfully, our brains come equipped with a cleanup crew called the glymphatic system, which clears out this waste while we sleep. But there’s a catch: this system works best when our brains are in sync, particularly at gamma frequencies around 40 Hz.
Studies from MIT, where I’m a fan of Li-Huei Tsai and her team’s work, have shown that exposure to 40 Hz light can enhance this cleaning process, boosting waste removal from our brains. It’s not just about light—40 Hz sound and even whole-body vibrations can support this clearing process and, in some cases, improve cognitive function. For a great summary of the status quo on this research, I highly recommend checking out Elie Dolgin’s recent article on Nature, which delves into these fascinating findings and their potential for brain health here.
Through my own studies, I’ve also explored how body-brain connections, particularly through the vagus nerve, can influence these resonant circuits and even learning centers. This body-brain dialogue can drive significant shifts in brain states, showcasing the complexity of our internal resonant networks.
So yes, there’s real science behind those flashing lights and buzzing beds.
The Zencora™ Difference: Exploring Resonant Frequencies for Wellness
Not all light or sound is created equal. Resonant frequencies matter, and understanding how to tune into them has been a key focus at Zencora™. We’re excited to dive into this rapidly evolving field and share what we’ve discovered about optimizing brain health by pushing the science forward. And yes, we’re building a neuroimaging network behind the scenes to take brain wellness to the next level.
You can also buy a vibroacoustic pod (or 3) today! Add Zencora™ to your wellness toolkit and join us in pushing the science of wellness forward.
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