[Neuro] Eyes-open EEG stimulation via the ear canals

[Mike Schachter]

Hey Sai,

I'm also quite skeptical of all this, but not completely dismissive of
it. Here's the published paper from the Valkee people about OPN3
immuno-labeling:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/y137358800436w51/

Using 10 rats, they immuno-label OPN3 protein and find it expressed in
cortex, cerebellum, and hypothalamus. It'd be interesting to see some
studies from people who aren't affiliated with a company that produces
in-ear light therapy products. That's what makes this study so
suspect. Some of the authors stand to make serious financial gain from
skewing their results. In most papers you see a small section where
the authors declare no conflict of interest. In this case, there is no
such section and a HUGE conflict of interest.

Also, the unecessary enthusiasm of Mr. Perry and his incorrect
citation of a paper that deals with optogenetics that has nothing to
do with light sensitive neurons in the brain makes me more skeptical.
Maybe you guys should tone it down a bit, you're just shooting light
into people's ears and hoping it works. Which is fine. But not
science.

 mike



On Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 10:58 AM, Sai <noisebridge at saizai.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 9:34 AM, LinkReincarnate
> <linkreincarnate at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Google Scholar thinks it's on the up and up...
>> http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=bright+light+therapy&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=
>
> Bright light therapy in general certainly is — I have a lightbox at
> home, prescribed by my doctor.
>
> But guess what: it works through the *eyes*. Which actually do have
> light receptors. :-)
>
>> The point is that the science behind it is sound. Sham studies of bright
>> light therapy are everywhere.
>
> Yes, for the kind that use lightboxes on eyes. Not for ears.
>
> - Sai
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