07/30/2026
On their own, neurofeedback and photobiomodulation are each powerful tools for brain health. Together, they work in a way that makes both more effective, and the science behind that combination is worth understanding.
Photobiomodulation works at the cellular level. When near-infrared light reaches the brain, it activates mitochondrial function -- specifically an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase -- which increases the brain's production of ATP, its primary energy currency. This means neurons have more energy available to form new connections, repair damaged tissue, and regulate their own activity. It also reduces neuroinflammation, which is a common underlying factor in conditions ranging from depression and brain fog to concussion recovery and cognitive decline.
Neurofeedback works at the network level. Using real-time EEG feedback, it trains the brain to recognize dysregulated patterns and shift toward healthier, more balanced states over time. The changes that come from neurofeedback are built on neuroplasticity -- the brain's ability to rewire itself -- and they tend to last because the brain has genuinely learned, not just been temporarily suppressed or stimulated.
When you use both together, photobiomodulation creates a better cellular environment for learning. The brain has more energy, less inflammation, and greater capacity for the kind of adaptation that neurofeedback is asking it to do. At O'Keefe Matz in Saint Paul, Dr. Janell Matz uses both in combination for exactly this reason.
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