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The Impact of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on the Bilateral Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Enhancing Convergent Thinking and Stroop Test

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Title: The Impact of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on the Bilateral Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Enhancing Convergent Thinking and Stroop Test
Language: English
Authors: Javier Peña (ORCID 0000-0002-0041-7020), Makii Muthalib (ORCID 0000-0003-0073-9211), Roger E. Beaty, Irune Pérez, Agurne Sampedro (ORCID 0000-0002-3069-4897), Olaia Lucas-Jiménez, Naroa Ibarretxe-Bilbao (ORCID 0000-0002-2434-5252), Natalia Ojeda
Source: Journal of Creative Behavior. 2026 60(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Convergent Thinking, Creative Thinking, Interference (Learning), Creativity, Brain, Light
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Remote Associates Test, Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, Stroop Color Word Test
DOI: 10.1002/jocb.70112
ISSN: 0022-0175
2162-6057
Abstract: Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been employed for cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of tPBM applied bilaterally over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on convergent thinking (CT), divergent thinking (DT), and the Stroop test. Additionally, we explored whether Stroop performance mediates the effect of tPBM on creativity. In this double-blind, between-subjects study, 56 healthy participants were randomly assigned to either the tPBM or sham group. tPBM was administered using near-infrared light (810 nm, 40 Hz; 50% duty cycle) over the right and left DLPFC for 20 min. Creativity was assessed at baseline and during stimulation using the Unusual Uses (UU) and Picture Completion (PC) for DT, and the Remote Associates Test (RAT) for CT, and the Stroop test. ANCOVA, controlling for baseline scores, revealed that the tPBM group scored significantly higher than the sham group on the RAT (F = 6.15, p = 0.016) and Stroop (F = 4.89, p = 0.031). However, no significant differences were observed for DT. The findings suggest that tPBM may be effective in enhancing CT, but its effect does not appear to be mediated by improvements in Stroop performance. These results indicate that tPBM could be a promising tool for cognitive enhancement in the healthy population.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1509157
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: The Impact of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on the Bilateral Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Enhancing Convergent Thinking and Stroop Test
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Javier+Peña%22">Javier Peña</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0041-7020">0000-0002-0041-7020</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Makii+Muthalib%22">Makii Muthalib</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0073-9211">0000-0003-0073-9211</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roger+E%2E+Beaty%22">Roger E. Beaty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Irune+Pérez%22">Irune Pérez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Agurne+Sampedro%22">Agurne Sampedro</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3069-4897">0000-0002-3069-4897</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Olaia+Lucas-Jiménez%22">Olaia Lucas-Jiménez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Naroa+Ibarretxe-Bilbao%22">Naroa Ibarretxe-Bilbao</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2434-5252">0000-0002-2434-5252</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Natalia+Ojeda%22">Natalia Ojeda</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Creative+Behavior%22"><i>Journal of Creative Behavior</i></searchLink>. 2026 60(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 10
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Convergent+Thinking%22">Convergent Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Creative+Thinking%22">Creative Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interference+%28Learning%29%22">Interference (Learning)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Creativity%22">Creativity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain%22">Brain</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Light%22">Light</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Remote+Associates+Test%22">Remote Associates Test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Torrance+Tests+of+Creative+Thinking%22">Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Stroop+Color+Word+Test%22">Stroop Color Word Test</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/jocb.70112
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0022-0175<br />2162-6057
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) has been employed for cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of tPBM applied bilaterally over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on convergent thinking (CT), divergent thinking (DT), and the Stroop test. Additionally, we explored whether Stroop performance mediates the effect of tPBM on creativity. In this double-blind, between-subjects study, 56 healthy participants were randomly assigned to either the tPBM or sham group. tPBM was administered using near-infrared light (810 nm, 40 Hz; 50% duty cycle) over the right and left DLPFC for 20 min. Creativity was assessed at baseline and during stimulation using the Unusual Uses (UU) and Picture Completion (PC) for DT, and the Remote Associates Test (RAT) for CT, and the Stroop test. ANCOVA, controlling for baseline scores, revealed that the tPBM group scored significantly higher than the sham group on the RAT (F = 6.15, p = 0.016) and Stroop (F = 4.89, p = 0.031). However, no significant differences were observed for DT. The findings suggest that tPBM may be effective in enhancing CT, but its effect does not appear to be mediated by improvements in Stroop performance. These results indicate that tPBM could be a promising tool for cognitive enhancement in the healthy population.
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  Data: 20260101
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  Data: EJ1509157
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        Value: 10.1002/jocb.70112
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Convergent Thinking
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      – SubjectFull: Creative Thinking
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      – SubjectFull: Interference (Learning)
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      – SubjectFull: Creativity
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      – SubjectFull: Remote Associates Test
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      – SubjectFull: Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking
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      – SubjectFull: Stroop Color Word Test
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      – TitleFull: The Impact of Transcranial Photobiomodulation on the Bilateral Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Enhancing Convergent Thinking and Stroop Test
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              Y: 2026
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