Red Light Therapy, Lasers, Wavelengths, Photobiomodulation. What Does It All Mean?
You might have heard people talk about red light therapy. Maybe you have seen panels advertised online, or heard someone mention infrared light in a wellness context. And you might have quietly wondered whether there is actual science behind it, or whether it is just another wellness trend dressed up in clinical-sounding language.
The answer is more interesting than you might expect.
Photobiomodulation, or PBM, is a form of light therapy that uses specific wavelengths of near-infrared and red light to stimulate biological processes inside your cells. It has been researched for decades, it is FDA-cleared for a range of therapeutic applications, and the evidence for its effects on brain health specifically is building rapidly.
At The Togetherness Project, we are adding PBM to our suite of neurotherapy tools. This post explains what it is, how it works, what the research supports, and which clinical-grade devices we are working with.
So what actually happens when light hits your cells?
Here is the part that surprises most people: light at certain wavelengths is absorbed by specific structures inside your cells, just as sunlight on your skin triggers vitamin D production. The target in this case is an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, which is located in your mitochondria, the parts of your cells responsible for producing energy.
When this enzyme absorbs near-infrared light, it responds. ATP production goes up. That is the currency your cells run on. Oxidative stress goes down. Blood flow improves. Inflammation is modulated. And in the brain specifically, neuroinflammation, which is a driver of many mental health presentations, can be reduced.
This is not a theoretical mechanism. It has been replicated in laboratory settings, animal models, and increasingly in human clinical trials across a range of conditions.
The light does not do something to your brain. It gives your cells the conditions they need to do more of what they already know how to do. That distinction matters.
What wavelengths matter, and why?
Not all light is the same, and not all red light therapy devices are doing the same thing. Wavelength determines how deep the light penetrates and what it targets. The four wavelengths most supported by clinical research are:
808nm: Near-infrared for brain and nervous system health
This is the most researched wavelength for brain applications. The 808nm range penetrates deep enough to reach cortical tissue transcranially (through the skull) and has the strongest evidence base for mood disorders, TBI recovery, and cognitive function. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed 808nm as the most effective wavelength for improving depression symptoms across randomised controlled trials.
975nm: Deep infrared for mitochondrial function and inflammation
The 975nm wavelength penetrates further into tissue and is associated with enhanced mitochondrial function and reduction of deep inflammatory processes. It is less researched than 808nm for brain-specific applications but has strong evidence for tissue recovery, chronic inflammation, and deep cellular repair.
638nm: Visible red for surface-level support
This is the visible red light you can actually see. It works at a shallower depth and is associated with anti-inflammatory effects, wound healing, circulation support, and skin health. In clinical PBM systems, it often serves as both a therapeutic wavelength and an aiming beam for the infrared modules.
Wavelength, power, dose, and application site all determine whether PBM produces a meaningful clinical effect. A cheap red light panel from a wellness retailer is not the same as a calibrated clinical-grade laser system. The distinction matters if you are expecting therapeutic outcomes.
What conditions does the research support?
I want to be honest with you about where the research sits. This is a field that is developing quickly, and the evidence base is genuinely promising but not yet definitive across all presentations. Here is what we know so far:
Depression and mood disorders
Multiple clinical studies have shown reductions in depression symptoms following transcranial PBM, alongside improvements in cerebral blood flow. The mechanism makes neurobiological sense: depression is increasingly understood to involve mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation, and PBM targets both directly. Research published in Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry describes transcranial PBM as an innovative approach for reaching the altered neurometabolism that underlies major depressive disorder, particularly for people whose depression has not responded to standard treatments.
Traumatic brain injury and post-concussive symptoms
This is one of the most exciting areas. A 2024 review in Cells found that PBM addresses multiple aspects of TBI pathophysiology simultaneously: axonal damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and persistent neuroinflammation. A 2025 randomised placebo-controlled trial in the Journal of Neurotrauma found significant improvements in cognitive function, post-concussion symptoms, and PTSD symptoms in people who received transcranial PBM compared to sham treatment.
For clients whose QEEG data shows the slow-wave excess and network disruption typical of unresolved brain injury, PBM offers a way to target the underlying cellular environment rather than just the electrical patterns.
PTSD and trauma
Research published in Translational Psychiatry demonstrated that early PBM at 808nm reduced PTSD-like responses by interfering with the consolidation of maladaptive fear memories. Separately, a 2024 review proposed that transcranial PBM may ease PTSD symptoms by modulating two key brain networks, the default mode network and the salience network, both of which are consistently dysregulated in trauma presentations and visible in QEEG assessments.
Anxiety, ADHD, cognitive function and sleep
The broader research base also covers improvements in executive function, attentional control, memory, and neuroinflammation reduction. Given how frequently these domains overlap with the presentations I work with, this is an area I will be watching closely and tracking in our own clinical data.
Where the evidence is promising but early, I will say so rather than overstate it. Honest communication about what we know and what we are still learning is part of how I work.
How does PBM fit into neurotherapy at The Togetherness Project?
Every decision about your treatment at The Togetherness Project starts with your QEEG and ERP assessment data. PBM is not something we offer as a standalone wellness treatment; it is integrated into a broader protocol that is guided by your individual brain profile.
For clients whose data shows patterns consistent with high inflammatory load, mitochondrial compromise, TBI-related changes, or cortical hypoactivation, PBM will be considered alongside our existing modalities: tDCS, tACS, pEMF, and tVNS as clinically indicated.
Some clients will benefit from it. Others will not need it. That distinction is always made on the basis of what the data shows, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
The clinical-grade devices we use and recommend
The consumer market for red light therapy is saturated with devices that vary enormously in quality, power, and clinical relevance. If you are considering PBM outside of our clinic, these are the devices that sit within serious clinical and neurotherapy frameworks:
NeuroField Neurotherapy (PBM as part of integrated neurotherapy) - Used by Us!!
NeuroField, the Santa Barbara-based neurotherapy clinic founded by Dr Nick Dogris, integrates PBM directly into their neurostimulation protocols alongside tACS, tDCS, pEMF, and tVNS. Their clinical model is the closest international equivalent to the integrated approach at The Togetherness Project. NeuroField Neurotherapy describes PBM as catalysing chemical activity in the brain to improve production of protective and supportive neurochemicals, and uses it in combination with neurostimulation to support the metabolic processes related to healing and neuroplasticity. This is not a device you purchase; it is a clinical service within their intensive programme.
528 Innovations 5i Series (IR 808nm, IR 975nm, and 638nm)- Used by Us!!
The 528i 5i Series is a clinical-grade portable laser system that bundles the three most therapeutically relevant wavelengths: 808nm, 975nm, and 638nm. It holds FDA 510(k) clearance (Class 3R), connects to a guided app with protocol libraries, and is engineered to deliver power levels typically reserved for clinical settings, while operating within a safety classification that does not require protective eyewear. It is one of the most complete multi-wavelength handheld systems currently available.
Avant Wellness LZ30 Series
Avant Wellness produces a compact, high-power Class 3B laser system widely used in clinical settings including chiropractic neurology, sports medicine, and integrative health. Their LZ30 delivers up to 1,000mW of red light (637nm) and 1,400mW of infrared, with a web-based protocol library covering more than 250 conditions. It is portable, well-supported clinically, and backed by evidence across pain, inflammation, neuropathy, and tissue recovery. The research cited above on wavelength specificity in the 630 to 640nm range is directly relevant to why Avant uses 637nm rather than the more common but less effective 660nm found in cheaper devices.
Is PBM right for you?
If you are already working with us through a neurotherapy programme, your current protocol does not change unless your assessment data and clinical presentation suggest PBM would add value. We will discuss that with you directly.
If you are new to The Togetherness Project and have a history that has not responded fully to standard approaches, including treatment-resistant depression, a history of head injury, complex trauma, or presentations where fatigue and inflammation are significant factors, it is worth having a conversation about whether a QEEG-guided programme that includes PBM is relevant for you.
We offer QEEG brain mapping assessments in Hawthorn (Melbourne) and Fremantle (Perth). That assessment is where every protocol decision starts.
→ Book a QEEG Brain Mapping Assessment
→ Make an Enquiry
Bliss Jackman is a family therapist, an IQCB candidate, and a psychologist-in-training at The Togetherness Project, providing Neurotherapy and family therapy services in Melbourne and Perth, Australia.
Related posts:
• Neurostimulation and Neuromodulation: What’s the Difference?
• When the Brain Doesn’t Forget: Birth Trauma, TBI, ADHD and What Brain Mapping Reveals