Visual gamma stimulation induces 40 Hz neural oscillations in the human hippocampus and alters phase synchrony and lag

Nonpharmaceutical approaches based on gamma entrainment using sensory stimuli (GENUS) have shown promise in reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology in mouse models. While human studies remain limited, GENUS has been shown to alleviate aspects of neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease....

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Published in:Communications biology Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 1301 - 11
Main Authors: Mlinarič, Tjaša, Khachatryan, Elvira, Wittevrongel, Benjamin, Dauwe, Ine, Carrette, Evelien, Van Roost, Dirk, Achten, Eric, Boon, Paul, Meurs, Alfred, Van Hulle, Marc M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 29.08.2025
Nature Publishing Group
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Subjects:
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692/308/575
Adult
Alzheimer's disease
Animal models
Atrophy
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Brain research
Dementia
EEG
Electroencephalography
Entrainment
Epilepsy
Female
Gamma Rhythm - physiology
Hippocampus
Hippocampus - physiology
Hippocampus - physiopathology
Humans
Life Sciences
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Neurodegenerative diseases
Oscillations
Patients
Photic Stimulation
Sensory stimuli
Signal to noise ratio
Synchronization
Visual stimuli
ISSN:2399-3642, 2399-3642
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Nonpharmaceutical approaches based on gamma entrainment using sensory stimuli (GENUS) have shown promise in reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology in mouse models. While human studies remain limited, GENUS has been shown to alleviate aspects of neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we analyze intracranial EEG data from 490 contacts across eleven patients with refractory epilepsy in response to three visual stimulation conditions. We find that 40 Hz visual stimulation successfully entrains neural activity beyond early visual areas, including the hippocampus and other cortical regions such as the temporal and frontal lobes. Additionally, we show that synchronization increases between the hippocampus and other cortical areas in response to the 40 Hz visual stimulation. Furthermore, combining stimulation with a simple visual oddball task alters the direction of information flow from frontal regions to the hippocampus and enhances both the strength and spatial extent of neural entrainment. These findings highlight the potential influence of cognitive engagement during sensory gamma stimulation and provide additional insights into the neurophysiological effects of 40 Hz visual stimulation. A study using intracranial EEG suggests that visual gamma stimulation successfully entrains neural activity in the human hippocampus and affects both directional and nondirectional interactions between the hippocampus and other brain regions.
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ISSN:2399-3642
2399-3642
DOI:10.1038/s42003-025-08766-6