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Nagai M, Dote K, Kato M, Sasaki S, Oda N, Po SS, Dasari TW. Blood Pressure Variability After Non-invasive Low-level Tragus Stimulation in Acute Heart Failure. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s12265-024-10544-4. [PMID: 38969912 DOI: 10.1007/s12265-024-10544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Higher blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) was shown to be strong predictors of poor cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure (HF). It is currently unknown if low-level tragus stimulation (LLTS) would lead to improvement in BPV in acute HF (AHF). The 22 patients with AHF (median 80 yrs, males 60%) were randomly assigned to active or sham group using an ear clip attached to the tragus (active group) or the earlobe (sham group) for 1 h daily over 5 days. In the active group, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) and δ in SBP were significantly decreased after LLTS (all p < 0.05). All the changes in SD, CV and δ in SBP before and after stimulation were also significantly different between active and sham groups (all p < 0.05). This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the beneficial effects of LLTS on BPV in AHF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiaki Nagai
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
- Cardiovascular Section, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Keigo Dote
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masaya Kato
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shota Sasaki
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Noboru Oda
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Sunny S Po
- Cardiovascular Section, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Tarun W Dasari
- Cardiovascular Section, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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Guerriero G, Liljedahl SI, Carlsen HK, López Muñoz M, Daros AR, Ruocco AC, Steingrimsson S. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation to acutely reduce emotional vulnerability and improve emotional regulation in borderline personality disorder (tVNS-BPD): study protocol for a randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial. Trials 2024; 25:397. [PMID: 38898522 PMCID: PMC11186228 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08230-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is considered a disorder of emotion regulation resulting from the expression of a biologically determined emotional vulnerability (that is, heightened sensitivity to emotion, increased emotional intensity/reactivity, and a slow return to emotional baseline) combined with exposure to invalidating environments. Vagal tone has been associated with activity in cortical regions involved in emotion regulation and a lower resting state of vagal tone has been observed in BPD patients relative to healthy controls. Non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been shown to reduce temper outbursts in adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome, to enhance recognition of emotions in healthy students, and to improve depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, a single session of taVNS has been shown to acutely alter the recognition of facial expressions of negative valence in adolescents with MDD and increase emotion recognition in controls. However, the effect of taVNS on emotional vulnerability and regulation in individuals diagnosed with BPD has not been investigated. Our aims are to determine if taVNS is effective in acutely reducing emotional vulnerability and improve emotional regulation in BPD patients. METHODS Forty-two patients will be randomized to a single session of taVNS or sham-taVNS while going through an affect induction procedure. It will consist of the presentation of one neutral and three negative affect-evoking 4-min-long videos in sequence, each of which is followed by a 4-min post-induction period during which participants will rate the quality and intensity of their current self-reported emotions (post-induction ratings) and the perceived effectiveness in managing their emotions during the video presentation. The rating of the current self-reported emotions will be repeated after every post-induction period (recovery ratings). Mixed models with individuals as random effect will be used to investigate the ratings at each stage of the study, taking into account the repeated measures of the same individuals at baseline, pre-induction, post-induction, and recovery. DISCUSSION The study has potential to yield new insights into the role of vagal tone in emotion dysregulation in BPD and offer preliminary data on the effectiveness of taVNS as a possible non-invasive brain stimulation to treat a core symptom of BPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05892900. Retrospectively registered on Jun 07, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Guerriero
- Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Sophie I Liljedahl
- Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
- National Specialized Medical Care Unit for Severe Self-Harm Behavior, Department of Psychiatry for Affective Disorders, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hanne K Carlsen
- Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre of Registers, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marta López Muñoz
- Department of Psychiatry for Affective Disorders, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Anthony C Ruocco
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Steinn Steingrimsson
- Section of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry for Affective Disorders, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
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de Melo PS, Gianlorenco AC, Marduy A, Kim CK, Choi H, Song JJ, Fregni F. A Mechanistic Analysis of the Neural Modulation of the Inflammatory System Through Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neuromodulation 2024:S1094-7159(24)00065-5. [PMID: 38795094 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the antiinflammatory effects of various VNS methods while exploring multiple antiinflammatory pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS We included clinical trials that used electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and assessed inflammatory markers up to October 2022. We excluded studies lacking control groups, those with combined interventions, or abstracts without full text. We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. For each inflammatory marker, a random-effects meta-analysis using the inverse variance method was performed. Methods used include transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS), transcutaneous cervical VNS (tcVNS), invasive cervical VNS (iVNS), and electroacupuncture VNS (eaVNS). Main reported outcomes included tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, C-reactive protein (CRP), and IL-10. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration Tool (RoB 2.0). RESULTS This review included 15 studies, involving 597 patients. No statistically significant general VNS effect was observed on TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß. However, CRP, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-γ were significantly modulated by VNS across all methods. Subgroup analysis revealed specific stimulation techniques producing significant results, such as taVNS effects in IL-1ß and IL-10, and iVNS in IL-6, whereas tcVNS and eaVNS did not convey significant pooled results individually. Cumulative exposure to VNS, higher risk of bias, study design, and pulse width were identified as effect size predictors in our meta-regression models. CONCLUSIONS Pooling all VNS techniques indicated the ability of VNS to modulate inflammatory markers such as CRP, IL-10, and IFN-γ. Individually, methods such as taVNS were effective in modulating IL-1ß and IL-10, whereas iVNS modulated IL-6. However, different VNS techniques should be separately analyzed in larger, homogeneous, and powerful studies to achieve a clearer and more consistent understanding of the effect of each VNS method on the inflammatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo S de Melo
- Medicine, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna C Gianlorenco
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Anna Marduy
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Medicine, União Metropolitana de Ensino e Cultura (UNIME), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Chi K Kim
- Department of Neurology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyuk Choi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea; Neurive Co, Ltd, Gimhae, South Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Song
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; Neurive Co, Ltd, Gimhae, South Korea
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Kawasaki A, Matsuzaki Y, Kawada T. Neuroregulatory Effects of Microcone Patch Stimulation on the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve and the Prefrontal Cortex: A Feasibility Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2399. [PMID: 38673672 PMCID: PMC11051441 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13082399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The primary purpose of this study was to preliminarily examine the effects of autonomic nervous system activity on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Recent studies have examined approaches to modulating autonomic activity using invasive and non-invasive methods, but the effects of changes in autonomic activity during cognitive tasks on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to examine changes in autonomic activity and blood oxygen saturation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during reading tasks induced by vagus nerve stimulation using a microcone patch. Methods: A cohort of 40 typically developing adults was enrolled in this study. We carefully examined changes in autonomic nervous system activity and blood oxygen saturation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a reading task in two conditions: with and without microcone patch stimulation. Results: Significant changes in brain activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortext due to microcone patch stimulation were confirmed. In addition, hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed specific changes in reading task-related blood oxygen saturation in the dorsolateral prefrontal region during microcone patch stimulation. Conclusions: It should be recognized that this study is a preliminary investigation and does not have immediate clinical applications. However, our results suggest that changes in autonomic nervous system activity induced by external vagal stimulation may affect activity in specific reading-related regions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Further research and evaluation are needed to fully understand the implications and potential applications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Kawasaki
- College of Social Csciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto 603-8577, Japan
- Graduate School of Education, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan;
| | - Yutaka Matsuzaki
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
| | - Taku Kawada
- Graduate School of Education, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8576, Japan;
- Sendai Shirayuri Gakuen Elementary School, Sendai 981-3205, Japan
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Chen L, He J, Zhang J, Wang Z, Zhang L, Gu B, Liu X, Ming D. Influence of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Motor Planning: A Resting-State and Task-State EEG Study. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2024; 28:1374-1385. [PMID: 37824310 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2023.3324085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) shows a potential regulatory role for motor planning. Still, existing research mainly focuses on behavioral studies, and the neural modulation mechanism needs to be clarified. Therefore, we designed a multi-condition (active or sham, pre or under, difficult or easy, left-hand or right-hand) motor planning experiment to explore the effect of online tVNS (i.e., tVNS and tasks synchronized). Twenty-eight subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to active and sham groups. Both groups performed the same tasks in the experiment and separately collected task-state EEG and 5-min eye-open resting-state EEG. The results showed that the changes in event-related potential (ERP) and movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) amplitudes were more significant for the left-hand difficult task (LD) under active-tVNS. According to the power spectrum results, active-tVNS significantly modulated the activities of the contralateral motor cortex at beta and gamma bands in the resting state. The functional connectivity based on partial directed coherence (PDC) showed significant changes in the parietal lobe after active-tVNS. These findings suggest that tVNS is a promising way to improve motor planning ability.
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Gerges ANH, Williams EER, Hillier S, Uy J, Hamilton T, Chamberlain S, Hordacre B. Clinical application of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation: a scoping review. Disabil Rehabil 2024:1-31. [PMID: 38362860 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2313123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation therapy. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic use of taVNS, optimal stimulation parameters, effective sham protocols, and safety. METHODS A scoping review was conducted. Five databases and grey literature were searched. The data extracted included stimulation parameters, adverse events (AEs), and therapeutic effects on clinical outcomes. RESULTS 109 studies were included. taVNS was used across 21 different clinical populations, most commonly in psychiatric, cardiac, and neurological disorders. Overall, 2,214 adults received active taVNS and 1,017 received sham taVNS. Reporting of stimulation parameters was limited and inconsistent. taVNS appeared to have a favourable therapeutic effect across a wide range of clinical populations with varied parameters. Three sham protocols were reported but their effectiveness was documented in only two of the 54 sham-controlled studies. Most reported adverse events were localised to stimulation site. CONCLUSION There is growing evidence for taVNS therapeutic effect. taVNS appears safe and tolerable. Sham protocols need evaluation. Standardised and comprehensive reporting of both stimulation parameters and adverse events is required. Two different questionnaires have been proposed to evaluate adverse events and the effectiveness of sham methods in blinding participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf N H Gerges
- Innovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ellen E R Williams
- School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, Australia
| | - Susan Hillier
- Innovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jeric Uy
- Innovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Taya Hamilton
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Australia
- Fourier Intelligence International Pte Ltd., Global Headquarters, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Saran Chamberlain
- Innovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Brenton Hordacre
- Innovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
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Sagui E, Claverie D, Bidaut W, Grelot L. Heart rate variability and cold-induced vascular dilation after stimulation of two different areas of the ear: a prospective, single-blinded, randomized crossover study. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:83. [PMID: 38350937 PMCID: PMC10863191 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04392-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both noninvasive transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and traditional medical practice (TMP), such as auriculotherapy, use the auricle as a starting point for stimulation, but with two different conceptual frameworks: taVNS depends on vagal afferences to account for its effects, whereas TMP requires stimulation of the ear with high topographical accuracy regardless of the afferent nerves. The aim of this study was to measure heart rate variability (HRV) and cold water-induced vasodilation (CIVD) after puncturing two different ear points with the same afference but that should have opposite effects according to TMP. METHODS Ten healthy subjects were investigated in this single-blinded crossover study over three sessions. In the first session, sympathetic activation was performed via cold water immersion of the right hand, with recordings taken from multiple fingers. HRV was assessed in the time domain (square root of the mean squared differences of NN intervals (RMSSD)) and frequency domain (low (LF) and high frequencies (HF)). In the second and third sessions, the same skin immersion test was performed, and mechanical stimulation was applied to the ear at two different points on the internal surface of the antitragus, one with alleged parasympathetic activity and the other with alleged sympathetic activity. The stimulation was done with semipermanent needles. RESULTS Stimulation of the point with alleged parasympathetic activity immediately resulted in a significant decrease in RMSSD in 75% of the subjects and in LF in 50% of the subjects, while stimulation of the point with alleged sympathetic activity resulted in an increase in HF and RMSSD in 50% of the subjects. Stimulation of these points did not affect the CIVD reflex. The 20 min cold water immersion induced an immediate decrease in LF and the LF/HF ratio and an increase in HF. The skin temperature of the nonimmersed medius significantly decreased when the contralateral hand was immersed, from 34.4 °C to 31.8 °C. CONCLUSIONS Stimulation of two different ear points innervated by the same afferent nerves elicited different HRV responses, suggesting somatotopy and a vagal effect beyond vagal afferences. These results are not in accordance with the claims of TMP. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT04130893 (18/10/2019) clinicaltrials.com.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Sagui
- European Hospital of Marseille, 13002, Marseille, France.
- French Biomedical Research Institute, 91220, Bretigny sur Orge, France.
| | - Damien Claverie
- French Biomedical Research Institute, 91220, Bretigny sur Orge, France
| | - Wahiba Bidaut
- European Hospital of Marseille, 13002, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Grelot
- Institute of Technology, Aix-Marseille University, dept HSE, 13708, La Ciotat, France
- French Military Hospital Laveran, 13384, Marseille, France
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Moazzami K, Pearce BD, Gurel NZ, Wittbrodt MT, Levantsevych OM, Huang M, Shandhi MMH, Herring I, Murrah N, Driggers E, Alkhalaf ML, Soudan M, Shallenberger L, Hankus AN, Nye JA, Vaccarino V, Shah AJ, Inan OT, Bremner JD. Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation modulates stress-induced plasma ghrelin levels: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial. J Affect Disord 2023; 342:85-90. [PMID: 37714385 PMCID: PMC10698687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) has emerged as a potential treatment strategy for patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders. Ghrelin is a hormone that has been postulated to be a biomarker of stress. While the mechanisms of action of tcVNS are unclear, we hypothesized that tcVNS reduces the levels of ghrelin in response to stress. METHODS Using a randomized double-blind approach, we studied the effects of tcVNS on ghrelin levels in individuals with a history of exposure to traumatic stress. Participants received either sham (n = 29) or active tcVNS (n = 26) after exposure to acute personalized traumatic script stress and mental stress challenges (public speech, mental arithmetic) over a three day period. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the levels of ghrelin between the tcVNS and sham stimulation groups at either baseline or in the absence of trauma scripts. However, tcVNS in conjunction with personalized traumatic scripts resulted in lower ghrelin levels compared to the sham stimulation group (265.2 ± 143.6 pg/ml vs 478.7 ± 349.2 pg/ml, P = 0.01). Additionally, after completing the public speaking and mental arithmetic tests, ghrelin levels were found to be lower in the group receiving tcVNS compared to the sham group (293.3 ± 102.4 pg/ml vs 540.3 ± 203.9 pg/ml, P = 0.009). LIMITATIONS Timing of ghrelin measurements, and stimulation of only left vagus nerve. CONCLUSION tcVNS decreases ghrelin levels in response to various stressful stimuli. These findings are consistent with a growing literature that tcVNS modulates hormonal and autonomic responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasra Moazzami
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
| | - Bradley D Pearce
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Nil Z Gurel
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Matthew T Wittbrodt
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Oleksiy M Levantsevych
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Minxuan Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Md Mobashir H Shandhi
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Isaias Herring
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Nancy Murrah
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Emily Driggers
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - MhmtJamil L Alkhalaf
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Majd Soudan
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Lucy Shallenberger
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Allison N Hankus
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Jonathon A Nye
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Viola Vaccarino
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Amit J Shah
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States of America
| | - Omer T Inan
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - J Douglas Bremner
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America; Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States of America
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Colzato L, Elmers J, Xu X, Zhou Q, Hommel B, Beste C. Regaining control over opioid use? The potential application of auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation to improve opioid treatment in China. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13343. [PMID: 37855071 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a critical problem in China and is accompanied by depression and deficits in cognitive control. In China, the most successful intervention for OUD is the community drug rehabilitation where methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) plays a key role. Even though methadone for the treatment of OUD can be helpful, it can cause severe somatic side-effects, which limit its effectivity. Even worse, it can have detrimental effects on cognitive control, which is crucial to regain control over drug intake. Here, we consider the potential use of auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) as an addition to MMT for opioid withdrawal treatment. Compared to other non-invasive brain stimulation methods, atVNS also targets the locus coeruleus (LC) important for noradrenaline (NA) synthesis. NA is an essential neurotransmitter impacted in opioid withdrawal and also critically involved in cognitive control processes. Its ADD-ON to MMT might be a useful mean to improve mood and enhance cognitive control processes impacted in OUD. We discuss the translational advantages of atVNS in China such as the cultural acceptance of the modality of treatment similar to electroacupuncture. Additionally, the wearability of the ear electrode and at-home self-administration without intense medical supervision makes of atVNS a useful tool to enhance clinical and cognitive outcomes especially in everyday life situation. We discuss how atVNS can be integrated in tele-medical health approaches allowing that innovative treatments can widely be disseminated and continued even in situations of restricted medical access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza Colzato
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Julia Elmers
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Xiaolei Xu
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Department of Psychology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Germany
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Jenkins DD, Moss HG, Adams LE, Hunt S, Dancy M, Huffman SM, Cook D, Jensen JH, Summers P, Thompson S, George MS, Badran BW. Higher Dose Noninvasive Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Increases Feeding Volumes and White Matter Microstructural Complexity in Open-Label Study of Infants Slated for Gastrostomy Tube. J Pediatr 2023; 262:113563. [PMID: 37329979 PMCID: PMC11000235 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with twice daily bottle feeding increases the volume of oral feeds and white matter neuroplasticity in term-age-equivalent infants failing oral feeds and determined to need a gastrostomy tube. STUDY DESIGN In this prospective, open-label study, 21 infants received taVNS paired with 2 bottle feeds for 2 - 3 weeks (2x). We compared 1) increase oral feeding volumes with 2x taVNS and previously reported once daily taVNS (1x) to determine a dose response, 2) number of infants who attained full oral feeding volumes, and 3) diffusional kurtosis imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after treatment by paired t tests. RESULTS All 2x taVNS treated infants significantly increased their feeding volumes compared with 10 days before treatment. Over 50% of 2x taVNS infants achieved full oral feeds but in a shorter time than 1x cohort (median 7 days [2x], 12.5 days [1x], P < .05). Infants attaining full oral feeds showed greater increase in radial kurtosis in the right corticospinal tract at the cerebellar peduncle and external capsule. Notably, 75% of infants of diabetic mothers failed full oral feeds, and their glutathione concentrations in the basal ganglia, a measure of central nervous system oxidative stress, were significantly associated with feeding outcome. CONCLUSIONS In infants with feeding difficulty, increasing the number of daily taVNS-paired feeding sessions to twice-daily significantly accelerates response time but not the overall response rate of treatment. taVNS was associated with white matter motor tract plasticity in infants able to attain full oral feeds. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04643808).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea D Jenkins
- Department of Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
| | - Hunter G Moss
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Lauren E Adams
- College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Sally Hunt
- College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Morgan Dancy
- Brain Stimulation Division, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Sarah M Huffman
- Brain Stimulation Division, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Daniel Cook
- College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Jens H Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Philipp Summers
- Brain Stimulation Division, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Sean Thompson
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mark S George
- Brain Stimulation Division, Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
| | - Bashar W Badran
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Neuro-X Lab, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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11
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Toschi N, Duggento A, Barbieri R, Garcia RG, Fisher HP, Kettner NW, Napadow V, Sclocco R. Causal influence of brainstem response to transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovagal outflow. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1557-1565. [PMID: 37827358 PMCID: PMC10809655 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The autonomic response to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been linked to the engagement of brainstem circuitry modulating autonomic outflow. However, the physiological mechanisms supporting such efferent vagal responses are not well understood, particularly in humans. HYPOTHESIS We present a paradigm for estimating directional brain-heart interactions in response to taVNS. We propose that our approach is able to identify causal links between the activity of brainstem nuclei involved in autonomic control and cardiovagal outflow. METHODS We adopt an approach based on a recent reformulation of Granger causality that includes permutation-based, nonparametric statistics. The method is applied to ultrahigh field (7T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data collected on healthy subjects during taVNS. RESULTS Our framework identified taVNS-evoked functional brainstem responses with superior sensitivity compared to prior conventional approaches, confirming causal links between taVNS stimulation and fMRI response in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Furthermore, our causal approach elucidated potential mechanisms by which information is relayed between brainstem nuclei and cardiovagal, i.e., high-frequency heart rate variability, in response to taVNS. Our findings revealed that key brainstem nuclei, known from animal models to be involved in cardiovascular control, exert a causal influence on taVNS-induced cardiovagal outflow in humans. CONCLUSION Our causal approach allowed us to noninvasively evaluate directional interactions between fMRI BOLD signals from brainstem nuclei and cardiovagal outflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Toschi
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome., Italy.
| | - Andrea Duggento
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome., Italy
| | - Riccardo Barbieri
- Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ronald G Garcia
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Harrison P Fisher
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Norman W Kettner
- Department of Radiology, Logan University, Chesterfield, MO, USA
| | - Vitaly Napadow
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, Logan University, Chesterfield, MO, USA; Scott Schoen and Nancy Adams Discovery Center for Recovery from Chronic Pain, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberta Sclocco
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, Logan University, Chesterfield, MO, USA; Scott Schoen and Nancy Adams Discovery Center for Recovery from Chronic Pain, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Black B, Hunter S, Cottrell H, Dar R, Takahashi N, Ferguson BJ, Valter Y, Porges E, Datta A, Beversdorf DQ. Remotely supervised at-home delivery of taVNS for autism spectrum disorder: feasibility and initial efficacy. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1238328. [PMID: 37840787 PMCID: PMC10568329 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1238328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has potential clinical application for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At-home sessions are necessary to allow delivery of repeated sessions, and remove burden on patients for daily visits, and reduce costs of clinic delivery. Our objective was to validate a protocol for remote supervised administration for home delivery of taVNS using specially designed equipment and platform. Methods An open-label design was followed involving administration by caretakers to 12 patients with ASD (ages:7-16). Daily 1-h sessions over 2 weeks were administered under remote supervision. The primary outcome was feasibility, which was assessed by completion rate, stimulation tolerability, and confirmation of programmed stimulation delivery. The secondary measures were initial efficacy assessed by Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (CASI-R), Parent Rated Anxiety Scale for Youth with ASD (PRAS-ASD), and Clinician Global Impression (CGI) scales. Sleep measures were also tracked using Cleveland Adolescent Sleep Questionnaire (CASQ). Results Across 132 sessions, we obtained an 88.5% completion rate. A total of 22 expected adverse events were reported with headache being the most common followed by transient pain, itchiness, and stinging at the electrode site. One subject dropped out of the study unrelated to the stimulation or the study. Average scores of anxiety (CASI-R, PRAS-ASD, and CGI) and sleepiness (CASQ) were all improved at the 2 week time point. While not powered to determine efficacy, benefits were suggested in this open label pilot. Conclusion Remotely supervised, proxy-administered, at-home delivery of taVNS is feasible in patients with ASD. Initial efficacy supports pursuing larger scale trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Black
- Department of Pediatrics, Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Samantha Hunter
- Department of Pediatrics, Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Hannah Cottrell
- Department of Pediatrics, Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Roee Dar
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Nicole Takahashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Bradley J. Ferguson
- Department of Neurology, Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Yishai Valter
- Research and Development, Soterix Medical, Woodbridge, NJ, United States
| | - Eric Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Abhishek Datta
- Research and Development, Soterix Medical, Woodbridge, NJ, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - David Q. Beversdorf
- Department of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, and the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, United States
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Biniaz-Harris N, Kuvaldina M, Fallon BA. Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease and Vagus Nerve Stimulation. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1347. [PMID: 37760644 PMCID: PMC10525519 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, is caused by infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. While most patients with acute Lyme disease recover completely if treated with antibiotics shortly after the onset of infection, approximately 10-30% experience post-treatment symptoms and 5-10% have residual symptoms with functional impairment (post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome or PTLDS). These patients typically experience pain, cognitive problems, and/or fatigue. This narrative review provides a broad overview of Lyme disease, focusing on neuropsychiatric manifestations and persistent symptoms. While the etiology of persistent symptoms remains incompletely understood, potential explanations include persistent infection, altered neural activation, and immune dysregulation. Widely recognized is that new treatment options are needed for people who have symptoms that persist despite prior antibiotic therapy. After a brief discussion of treatment approaches, the article focuses on vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a neuromodulation approach that is FDA-approved for depression, epilepsy, and headache syndromes and has been reported to be helpful for other diseases characterized by inflammation and neural dysregulation. Transcutaneous VNS stimulates the external branch of the vagus nerve, is minimally invasive, and is well-tolerated in other conditions with few side effects. If well-controlled double-blinded studies demonstrate that transcutaneous auricular VNS helps patients with chronic syndromes such as persistent symptoms after Lyme disease, taVNS will be a welcome addition to the treatment options for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Biniaz-Harris
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; (N.B.-H.); (M.K.)
| | - Mara Kuvaldina
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; (N.B.-H.); (M.K.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Brian A. Fallon
- Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; (N.B.-H.); (M.K.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA
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14
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Dolphin H, Dyer AH, Dukelow T, Finucane C, Commins S, Kennelly SP. Safety and feasibility of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in mild cognitive impairment: VINCI-AD study protocol. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:289. [PMID: 37532979 PMCID: PMC10394887 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03320-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over 55 million adults are living with dementia globally, which is projected to reach 157 million by 2050. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a syndrome of memory impairment with intact activities of daily living, may precede dementia by several years. Around 5-15% of individuals with MCI convert to dementia annually. Novel treatments which delay progression of MCI to dementia are urgently needed. Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that targets the vagus nerve. Importantly, tVNS has been shown to improve cognition in healthy volunteers, but has not been extensively examined as a potential therapeutic approach in MCI. VINCI-AD will examine the safety and feasibility of tVNS in older adults with MCI. DESIGN VINCI-AD is an investigator-led, single-site, single-blind, sham-controlled crossover pilot study which aims to assess the safety and feasibility of tVNS in 40 participants with amnestic MCI. All participants will attend for three consecutive study visits during which they will be randomised to receive no stimulation (baseline), active tVNS stimulation (stimulation at cymba conchae of left ear) or sham tVNS stimulation (at earlobe). Safety will be primarily assessed by ascertainment of adverse events. Further safety assessment will examine the impact of acute tVNS on subjective (orthostatic symptoms), peripheral (finometry-based blood pressure) and central (assessed via Near Infrared Spectroscopy [NIRS]) haemodynamic responses to active stand. Feasibility will be determined using a custom-designed occupational assessment of device usability. Exploratory secondary analysis in VINCI-AD will examine the potential impact of acute tVNS on associative memory, spatial memory and inhibitory control to inform sample size estimates for future trials of tVNS in older adults with MCI. DISCUSSION VINCI-AD will report on the safety (adverse events/haemodynamic responses to active stand) and feasibility of tVNS as a potential therapeutic option in MCI. Detailed reporting of study eligibility and completion rates will be reported. Exploratory analysis will examine the potential cognitive benefits of acute tVNS on cognitive function in MCI to report potential effect sizes that may inform future clinical trials in this cohort. TRIAL REGISTRATION https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05514756 . Trial Registration Number NCT05514756 (24th August 2022 for this protocol, version 1.0.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Dolphin
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland.
- Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Tallaght, Ireland.
- Age-Related Healthcare Department, Tallaght University Hospital, Tallaght, Ireland.
| | - Adam H Dyer
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
- Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Tallaght, Ireland
| | - Tim Dukelow
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Finucane
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Physics, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Commins
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Sean P Kennelly
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
- Institute of Memory and Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Tallaght, Ireland
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15
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Trifilio E, Shortell D, Olshan S, O’Neal A, Coyne J, Lamb D, Porges E, Williamson J. Impact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on healthy cognitive and brain aging. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1184051. [PMID: 37575296 PMCID: PMC10416636 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1184051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence for clinically meaningful benefits of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been rapidly accumulating over the past 15 years. This relatively novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique has been applied to a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's disease. More recently, non-invasive forms of VNS have allowed for investigations within healthy aging populations. These results offer insight into protocol considerations specific to older adults and how to translate those results into effective clinical trials and, ultimately, effective clinical care. In this review, we characterize the possible mechanisms by which non-invasive VNS may promote healthy aging (e.g., neurotransmitter effects, inflammation regulation, functional connectivity changes), special considerations for applying non-invasive VNS in an older adult population (e.g., vagus nerve changes with age), and how non-invasive VNS may be used in conjunction with existing behavioral interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive training) to promote healthy emotional and cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Trifilio
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Destin Shortell
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sarah Olshan
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexandria O’Neal
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jozee Coyne
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Damon Lamb
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Eric Porges
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John Williamson
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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16
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Konakoğlu G, Özden AV, Solmaz H, Bildik C. The effect of auricular vagus nerve stimulation on electroencephalography and electromyography measurements in healthy persons. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1215757. [PMID: 37528897 PMCID: PMC10390310 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1215757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a non-invasive treatment modality. Opinions that it can be used in the treatment of various clinical problems have gained importance in recent years. In this study, it was aimed to lay the groundwork for the use of the auricular VNS in different ears. Methods: Healthy individuals (n = 90) were divided into three groups: unilateral left (n = 30), unilateral right (n = 30), and bilateral (n = 30) auricular VNS. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) measurements were performed before and after auricular VNS (10 Hz, 300 µs, 20 min) for a single session. Results: An increase in wrist extensor muscles activation was detected on the contralateral side of the auricular VNS application side. It has been observed that there is a general decrease in the power of high-frequency waves and an increase in the power of lower-medium frequency waves in various parts of the brain. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the projection of the auricular VNS in the central nervous system may also affect the corticospinal tracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gülşah Konakoğlu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Ali Veysel Özden
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Hakan Solmaz
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Biomedical Engineering Department, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Türkiye
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17
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Nagai M, Dote K, Förster CY. Denervation or stimulation? Role of sympatho-vagal imbalance in HFpEF with hypertension. Hypertens Res 2023; 46:1727-1737. [PMID: 37045971 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-023-01272-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) in the elderly is an increasingly large and complex problem in modern society. Notably, the cause of HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is multifactorial and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. Among these, hypertension has emerged as a pivotal factor in the pathophysiology and therapeutic targets of HFpEF. Neuronal elements distributed throughout the cardiac autonomic nervous system, from the level of the central autonomic network including the insular cortex to the intrinsic cardiac nervous system, regulate the human cardiovascular system. Specifically, increased sympathetic nervous system activity due to sympatho-vagal imbalance is suggested to be associated the relationship between hypertension and HFpEF. While several new pharmacological therapies, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, have been shown to be effective in HFpEF, neuromodulatory therapies of renal denervation and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have received recent attention. The current review explores the pathophysiology of the brain-heart axis that underlies the relationship between hypertension and HFpEF and the rationale for therapeutic neuromodulation of HFpEF by non-invasive transcutaneous VNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiaki Nagai
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Keigo Dote
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Carola Yvette Förster
- University Hospital Würzburg, Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, Würzburg, Germany
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18
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Rufener KS, Wienke C, Salanje A, Haghikia A, Zaehle T. Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation paired with tones on electrophysiological markers of auditory perception. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:982-989. [PMID: 37336282 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been introduced as a non-invasive alternative to invasive vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS). While iVNS paired with tones has been highlighted as a potential effective therapy for the treatment of auditory disorders such as tinnitus, there is still scarce data available confirming the efficacy of non-invasive taVNS. Here, we assessed the effect of taVNS paired with acoustic stimuli on sensory-related electrophysiological responses. METHODS A total of 22 healthy participants were investigated with a taVNS tone-pairing paradigm using a within-subjects design. In a single session pure tones paired with either active taVNS or sham taVNS were repeatedly presented. Novel tones without electrical stimulation served as control condition. Auditory event related potentials and auditory cortex oscillations were compared before and after the tone pairing procedure between stimulation conditions. RESULTS From pre to post pairing, we observed a decrease in the N1 amplitude and in theta power to tones paired with sham taVNS while these electrophysiological measures remained stable for tones paired with active taVNS a pattern mirroring auditory sensory processing of novel, unpaired control tones. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the efficacy of a short-term application of non-invasive taVNS to modulate auditory processing in healthy individuals and, thereby, have potential implications for interventions in auditory processing deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina S Rufener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Christian Wienke
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Alena Salanje
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Aiden Haghikia
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tino Zaehle
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
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Peng X, Baker-Vogel B, Sarhan M, Short EB, Zhu W, Liu H, Kautz S, Badran BW. Left or right ear? A neuroimaging study using combined taVNS/fMRI to understand the interaction between ear stimulation target and lesion location in chronic stroke. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1144-1153. [PMID: 37517466 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Implanted vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) have been primarily administered clinically to the unilateral-left vagus nerve. This left-only convention has proved clinically beneficial in brain disorders. However, in stroke survivors, the presence of a lesion in the brain may complicate VNS-mediated signaling, and it is important to understand the laterality effects of VNS in stroke survivors to optimize the intervention. OBJECTIVE To understand whether taVNS delivered to different ear targets relative to the lesion (ipsilesional vs contralesional vs bilateral vs sham) impacts blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal propagation in stroke survivors. METHODS We enrolled 20 adults with a prior history of stroke. Each participant underwent a single visit, during which taVNS was delivered concurrently during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition. Each participant received three discrete active stimulation conditions (ipsilesional, contralesional, bilateral) and one sham condition in a randomized order. Stimulation-related BOLD signal changes in the active conditions were compared to sham conditions to understand the interaction taVNS and laterality effects. RESULTS All active taVNS conditions deactivated the contralesional default mode network related regions compared to sham, however only ipsilesional taVNS enhanced the activations in the ipsilesional visuomotor and secondary visual cortex. Furthermore, we reveal an interaction in task activations between taVNS and cortical visuomotor areas, where ipsilesional taVNS significantly increased ipsilesional visuomotor activity and decreased contralesional visuomotor activity compared to sham. CONCLUSION Laterality of taVNS relative to the lesion is a critical factor in optimizing taVNS in a stroke population, with ipsilesional stimulation providing largest direct brain activation and should be explored further when designing taVNS studies in neurorehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Peng
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuro-X Lab, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Deparment of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Brenna Baker-Vogel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuro-X Lab, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Deparment of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Mutaz Sarhan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuro-X Lab, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Deparment of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Edward B Short
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuro-X Lab, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Deparment of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Wenzhen Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hesheng Liu
- Deparment of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Changping Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Steven Kautz
- Department of Health Sciences and Research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Bashar W Badran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neuro-X Lab, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; Deparment of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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Konjusha A, Yu S, Mückschel M, Colzato L, Ziemssen T, Beste C. Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Specifically Enhances Working Memory Gate Closing Mechanism: A System Neurophysiological Study. J Neurosci 2023; 43:4709-4724. [PMID: 37221097 PMCID: PMC10286950 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2004-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Everyday tasks and goal-directed behavior involve the maintenance and continuous updating of information in working memory (WM). WM gating reflects switches between these two core states. Neurobiological considerations suggest that the catecholaminergic and the GABAergic are likely involved in these dynamics. Both of these neurotransmitter systems likely underlie the effects to auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS). We examine the effects of atVNS on WM gating dynamics and their underlying neurophysiological and neurobiological processes in a randomized crossover study design in healthy humans of both sexes. We show that atVNS specifically modulates WM gate closing and thus specifically modulates neural mechanisms enabling the maintenance of information in WM. WM gate opening processes were not affected. atVNS modulates WM gate closing processes through the modulation of EEG alpha band activity. This was the case for clusters of activity in the EEG signal referring to stimulus information, motor response information, and fractions of information carrying stimulus-response mapping rules during WM gate closing. EEG-beamforming shows that modulations of activity in fronto-polar, orbital, and inferior parietal regions are associated with these effects. The data suggest that these effects are not because of modulations of the catecholaminergic (noradrenaline) system as indicated by lack of modulatory effects in pupil diameter dynamics, in the inter-relation of EEG and pupil diameter dynamics and saliva markers of noradrenaline activity. Considering other findings, it appears that a central effect of atVNS during cognitive processing refers to the stabilization of information in neural circuits, putatively mediated via the GABAergic system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Goal-directed behavior depends on how well information in short-term memory can be flexibly updated but also on how well it can be shielded from distraction. These two functions were guarded by a working memory gate. We show how an increasingly popular brain stimulation techniques specifically enhances the ability to close the working memory gate to shield information from distraction. We show what physiological and anatomic aspects underlie these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyla Konjusha
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Shijing Yu
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Moritz Mückschel
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Lorenza Colzato
- Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, MS Centre, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
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21
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Mortimer G, Nadine H, Nina T, Kirsten S, Anke RS. Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation on the fatigue syndrome in patients with gastrointestinal cancers - FATIVA: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study protocol. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2023; 9:66. [PMID: 37087481 PMCID: PMC10121416 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01289-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is defined as a "distressing, persistent, subjective sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and interferes with usual functioning." CRF is frequently observed in cancer patients even before the initiation of tumor therapy. Its cause is not clear, but in addition to primary effects of therapy, a tumor-induced elevated level of inflammatory cytokines may play a role. Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a noninvasive way to activate central nervous pathways and modulate pain perception and the immune system. It has positive effects on autoimmune conditions and can also improve fatigue associated with Sjogren's syndrome. It is the main purpose of this feasibility study to investigate the feasibility of daily taVNS against CRF. Therefore, the stimulation protocol of the newly introduced smartphone app of the manufacturer is evaluated. Additionally, the effect taVNS on CRF and quality of life (QoL) shall be evaluated. METHODS Thirty adult patients with gastrointestinal tumors during or after treatment, relevant CRF (Hornheide questionnaire) and life expectancy > 1 year, are enrolled. Patients are randomized to treatment or sham arm and be informed that they will either feel the stimulation or not. Treatment group will receive left-sided tragus above-threshold stimulation with 25 Hz, 250 µs pulse width, and 28-s/32-s on/off paradigm for 4 h throughout the day for 4 weeks. Sham group will receive no stimulation via a nonfunctional electrode. A daily stimulation protocol with time and average intensity is automatically created by a smartphone app connected to the stimulator via Bluetooth®. Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20, Short-Form 36 and Beck Depression Inventory questionnaires will be filled out before and after 4 weeks of stimulation. DISCUSSION Primarily, the patients' daily stimulation time and intensity will be evaluated through the electronic protocol after 4 weeks. Secondarily, the effect of taVNS on cancer-related fatigue and QoL will be measured through the questionnaires. As taVNS seems to modulate inflammatory cytokines, this noninvasive method may - if accepted by the patients - be a promising adjunct in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was approved by local ethics committee (21-7395) and registered at the DRKS database (DRKS00027481).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gierthmuehlen Mortimer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, In Der Schornau 23-25, 44892, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Höffken Nadine
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Gudrunstrasse 56, 44791, Bochum, Germany
| | - Timmesfeld Nina
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Schmieder Kirsten
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, In Der Schornau 23-25, 44892, Bochum, Germany
| | - Reinacher-Schick Anke
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Gudrunstrasse 56, 44791, Bochum, Germany
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Simmonds L, Lagrata S, Stubberud A, Cheema S, Tronvik E, Matharu M, Kamourieh S. An open-label observational study and meta-analysis of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in medically refractory chronic cluster headache. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1100426. [PMID: 37064192 PMCID: PMC10098146 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1100426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundMany patients with cluster headache (CH) are inadequately controlled by current treatment options. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) is reported to be effective in the management of CH though some studies suggest that it is ineffective.ObjectiveTo assess the safety and efficacy of nVNS in chronic cluster headache (CCH) patients.MethodWe prospectively analysed data from 40 patients with refractory CCH in this open-label, observational study. Patients were seen in tertiary headache clinics at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and trained to use nVNS as preventative therapy. Patients were reivewed at one month and then three-monthly from onset. The primary endpoint was number of patients achieving ≥50% reduction in attack frequency at 3 months. A meta-analysis of all published studies evaluating the efficacy of nVNS in CCH was also conducted. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for all studies investigating the use of nVNS as a preventive or adjunctive treatment for CCH with five or more participants. Combined mean difference and responder proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated from the included studies.Results17/40 patients (43%) achieved ≥50% reduction in attack frequency at 3 months. There was a significant reduction in monthly attack frequency from a baseline of 124 (±67) attacks to 79 (±63) attacks in month 3 (mean difference 44.7; 95% CI 25.1 to 64.3; p < 0.001). In month 3, there was also a 1.2-point reduction in average severity from a baseline Verbal Rating Scale of 8/10 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.9; p = 0.001). Four studies, along with the present study, were deemed eligible for meta-analysis, which showed a responder proportion of 0.35 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.69, n = 137) and a mean reduction in headache frequency of 35.3 attacks per month (95% CI 11.0 to 59.6, n = 108), from a baseline of 105 (±22.7) attacks per month.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential benefit of nVNS in CCH, with significant reductions in headache frequency and severity. To better characterise the effect, randomised sham-controlled trials are needed to confirm the beneficial response of VNS reported in some, but not all, open-label studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Simmonds
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susie Lagrata
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anker Stubberud
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
- Norwegian Centre for Headache Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sanjay Cheema
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erling Tronvik
- Norwegian Centre for Headache Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neurology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Manjit Matharu
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
- Norwegian Centre for Headache Research, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Salwa Kamourieh
- Headache and Facial Pain Group, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Salwa Kamourieh,
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23
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Gurtubay IG, Perez-Rodriguez DR, Fernandez E, Librero-Lopez J, Calvo D, Bermejo P, Pinin-Osorio C, Lopez M. Immediate effects and duration of a short and single application of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on P300 event related potential. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1096865. [PMID: 37051148 PMCID: PMC10083261 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1096865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a neuromodulatory technique that stimulates the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The modulation of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) network is one of the potential working mechanisms of this method. Our aims were 1-to investigate if short and single applications of taVNS can modulate the P300 cognitive event-related potential (ERP) as an indirect marker that reflects NE brain activation under control of the LC, and 2-to evaluate the duration of these changes.Methods20 healthy volunteers executed an auditory oddball paradigm to obtain P300 and reaction time (RT) values. Then a 7 min active or sham taVNS period was initiated and simultaneously a new P300 paradigm was performed. We successively repeated the paradigm on 4 occasions with different time intervals up to 56 min after the stimulation onset.ResultsDuring active taVNS an immediate and significant effect of increasing the amplitude and reducing the latency of P300, as well as a shortening in the RT was observed. This effect was prolonged in time up to 28 min. The values then returned to pre-stimulation levels. Sham stimulation did not generate changes.DiscussionOur results, demonstrate differential facilitating effects in a concrete time window after taVNS. Literature about the modulatory effect of taVNS over P300 ERP shows a wide spread of results. There is not a standardized system for taVNS and currently the great heterogeneity of stimulation approaches concerning targets and parameters, make it difficult to obtain conclusions about this relationship. Our study was designed optimizing several stimulation settings, such as a customized earbud stimulator, enlarged stimulating surface, simultaneous stimulation over the cymba and cavum conchae, a Delayed Biphasic Pulse Burst and current controlled stimulation that adjusted the output voltage and guaranteed the administration of a preset electrical dose. Under our stimulation conditions, targeting vagal nerve fibers via taVNS modulates the P300 in healthy participants. The optimal settings of modulatory function of taVNS on P300, and their interdependency is insufficiently studied in the literature, but our data provides several easily optimizable parameters, that will produce more robust results in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñaki G. Gurtubay
- Department of Neurophysiology, University Hospital of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarrabiomed Biomedical Research Centre, Pamplona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Iñaki G. Gurtubay,
| | | | | | | | - David Calvo
- Arrhythmia Unit, Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Asturias, Spain
| | - Pedro Bermejo
- Neurologist, Translational Medicine UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Miguel Lopez
- Xana Smart Neurostimulation, Epalinges, Switzerland
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Murphy AJ, O'Neal AG, Cohen RA, Lamb DG, Porges EC, Bottari SA, Ho B, Trifilio E, DeKosky ST, Heilman KM, Williamson JB. The Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Functional Connectivity Within Semantic and Hippocampal Networks in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:419-430. [PMID: 36477709 PMCID: PMC10121945 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01318-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Better treatments are needed to improve cognition and brain health in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) may impact brain networks relevant to AD through multiple mechanisms including, but not limited to, projection to the locus coeruleus, the brain's primary source of norepinephrine, and reduction in inflammation. Neuropathological data suggest that the locus coeruleus may be an early site of tau pathology in AD. Thus, tVNS may modify the activity of networks that are impaired and progressively deteriorate in patients with MCI and AD. Fifty patients with MCI (28 women) confirmed via diagnostic consensus conference prior to MRI (sources of info: Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MOCA), Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR), Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised (HVLT-R) and medical record review) underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a Siemens 3 T scanner during tVNS (left tragus, n = 25) or sham control conditions (left ear lobe, n = 25). During unilateral left tVNS, compared with ear lobe stimulation, patients with MCI showed alterations in functional connectivity between regions of the brain that are important in semantic and salience functions including regions of the temporal and parietal lobes. Furthermore, connectivity from hippocampi to several cortical and subcortical clusters of ROIs also demonstrated change with tVNS compared with ear lobe stimulation. In conclusion, tVNS modified the activity of brain networks in which disruption correlates with deterioration in AD. These findings suggest afferent target engagement of tVNS, which carries implications for the development of noninvasive therapeutic intervention in the MCI population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan J Murphy
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexandria G O'Neal
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ronald A Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Damon G Lamb
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric C Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah A Bottari
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Brian Ho
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Erin Trifilio
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Steven T DeKosky
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kenneth M Heilman
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - John B Williamson
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Colzato LS, Elmers J, Beste C, Hommel B. A Prospect to Ameliorate Affective Symptoms and to Enhance Cognition in Long COVID Using Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12031198. [PMID: 36769845 PMCID: PMC9917620 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12031198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Long COVID, the postviral disorder caused by COVID-19, is expected to become one of the leading causes of disability in Europe. The cognitive consequences of long COVID have been described as "brain fog" and characterized by anxiety and depression, and by cognitive deficits. Long COVID is assumed to be a complex condition arising from multiple causes, including persistent brainstem dysfunction and disrupted vagal signaling. We recommend the potential application of auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) as an ADD-ON instrument to compensate for the cognitive decline and to ameliorate affective symptoms caused by long COVID. This technique enhances vagal signaling by directly activating the nuclei in the brainstem, which are hypoactive in long COVID to enhance mood and to promote attention, memory, and cognitive control-factors affected by long COVID. Considering that atVNS is a non-pharmacological intervention, its ADD-ON to standard pharmaceutical agents will be useful for non-responders, making of this method a suitable tool. Given that atVNS can be employed as an ecological momentary intervention (EMI), we outline the translational advantages of atVNS in the context of accelerating the cognitive and affective recovery from long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza S. Colzato
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Elmers
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Espinoza-Palavicino T, Mena-Chamorro P, Albayay J, Doussoulin A, Gálvez-García G. The use of transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation as an effective countermeasure for Simulator Adaptation Syndrome. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 107:103921. [PMID: 36341733 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This research focused on investigating the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) as compared to Galvanic Cutaneous Stimulation (GCS) at mitigating Simulator Adaptation Syndrome (SAS). Fifty drivers (mean age = 23.04 ± 17.71 years old, twenty-two men) participated in a driving simulation experiment. The total scores of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, head movements (body balance index), and driving performance variables were measured under five stimulation conditions: i) baseline (no stimulation delivered), ii) sham GCS, iii) sham tVNS, iv) active GCS, and v) active tNVS. The results showed that tVNS alleviated SAS and improved driving performance variables more effectively than GCS. We conclude that GCS and tVNS have similar neurological mechanisms to reduce SAS, providing possible explanations for the greater effectiveness of tVNS. We encourage the use of tVNS to decrease SAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Espinoza-Palavicino
- -Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 4780000, Temuco, Chile
| | - Patricio Mena-Chamorro
- -Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 4780000, Temuco, Chile
| | - Javier Albayay
- -Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto (TN), Italy
| | - Arlette Doussoulin
- -Departmento de Rehabilitación. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 4780000, Temuco, Chile
| | - Germán Gálvez-García
- -Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 4780000, Temuco, Chile; - Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad de Salamanca. Campus Ciudad Jardín, 37005, Salamanca, Spain.
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De Smet S, Ottaviani C, Verkuil B, Kappen M, Baeken C, Vanderhasselt MA. Effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive and autonomic correlates of perseverative cognition. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14250. [PMID: 36683127 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Perseverative cognitions can provoke psychophysiological stress in the absence of an actual stressor and are considered important transdiagnostic vulnerability factors for several (mental) health issues. These stress-related cognitive processes are reflected by both cognitive (assessed by self-reports) and autonomic inflexibility (assessed by heart rate variability; HRV), with a key role attributed to the vagus nerve. Interestingly, modulation of the afferent branches of the vagus can be achieved with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive technique that employs a low-intensity electrical current applied to the ear. In a sample of healthy individuals, we investigated the effects of taVNS of the left concha, compared to sham (earlobe) stimulation, on the cognitive and autonomic correlates of perseverative cognition following a psychosocial stress task. Interestingly, taVNS significantly reduced cognitive rigidity, reflected by reduced subjective perseverative thinking after psychosocial stress. Although there were no direct effects on autonomic correlates of perseverative cognition, individual differences in perseverative thinking after the stressor significantly affected the effects of taVNS on HRV. Specifically, more autonomic inflexibility during the stress task (i.e., reduced HRV) was associated with increases in perseverative thinking afterward for the sham condition, but not the active taVNS condition. Additional exploratory analyses revealed no significant moderation of stimulation intensity. Overall, the study findings endorse the association between perseverative cognitions and vagus nerve functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie De Smet
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Bart Verkuil
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mitchel Kappen
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, Brussels University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Chen S, Du M, Wang Y, Li Y, Tong B, Qiu J, Wu F, Liu Y. State of the art: non-invasive electrical stimulation for the treatment of chronic tinnitus. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2023; 14:20406223221148061. [PMID: 36860934 PMCID: PMC9969452 DOI: 10.1177/20406223221148061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Subjective tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of external stimulation. Neuromodulation is a novel method with promising properties for application in tinnitus management. This study sought to review the types of non-invasive electrical stimulation in tinnitus to provide the foothold for further research. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies on the modulation of tinnitus by non-invasive electrical stimulation. Among the four forms of non-invasive electrical modulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial random noise stimulation, and transauricular vagus nerve stimulation yielded promising results, whereas the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation in the treatment of tinnitus has not been confirmed. Non-invasive electrical stimulation can effectively suppress tinnitus perception in some patients. However, the heterogeneity in parameter settings leads to scattered and poorly replicated findings. Further high-quality studies are needed to identify optimal parameters to develop more acceptable protocols for tinnitus modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanwen Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Maoshan Du
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Yifan Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Busheng Tong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Jianxin Qiu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Feihu Wu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 117 Meishan Road, Hefei 230031, Anhui, P.R. China
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Chen Y, Lu X, Hu L. Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Facilitates Cortical Arousal and Alertness. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1402. [PMID: 36674156 PMCID: PMC9859411 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a promising noninvasive technique with potential beneficial effects on human emotion and cognition, including cortical arousal and alertness. However, it remains unclear how taVNS could improve cortical arousal and alertness, which are crucial for consciousness and daily task performance. Here, we aimed to estimate the modulatory effect of taVNS on cortical arousal and alertness and to reveal its underlying neural mechanisms. Sixty subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to either the taVNS group (receiving taVNS for 20 min) or the control group (receiving taVNS for 30 s). The effects of taVNS were evaluated behaviorally using a cue-target pattern task, and neurologically using a resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG). We found that taVNS facilitated the reaction time for the targets requiring right-hand responses and attenuated high-frequency alpha oscillations under the close-eye resting state. Importantly, taVNS-modulated alpha oscillations were positively correlated with the facilitated target detection performance, i.e., reduced reaction time. Furthermore, microstate analysis of the resting-state EEG when the eyes were closed illustrated that taVNS reduced the mean duration of microstate C, which has been proven to be associated with alertness. Altogether, this work provided novel evidence suggesting that taVNS could be an enhancer of both cortical arousal and alertness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Bascour-Sandoval C, Gajardo-Burgos R, Muñoz-Poblete C, Riedemann-González P, Erices-Salas S, Martínez-Molina A, Gálvez-García G. Transcutaneous Vagal Stimulation in Knee Osteoarthritis (TRAVKO): Protocol of a Superiority, Outcome Assessor- and Participant-Blind, Randomised Controlled Trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:311. [PMID: 36612632 PMCID: PMC9819338 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Current treatments for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) are partially effective. It is, therefore, necessary to find new strategies that can complement the existing ones. In this scenario, transcutaneous vagal stimulation (TVS) neurophysiological effects could be a helpful solution. However, there is no evidence of the efficacy of TVS in KOA. This trial aims to assess the efficacy of TVS in decreasing pain in participants aged 55 years or older with KOA. A randomised controlled, two-arm, double-blind (participants and outcome assessors) and clinical superiority trial will be conducted for 70 patients with KOA. All the participants will carry out an exercise program. It consists of 12 sessions over four weeks. In addition, they will be randomly assigned to (1) active TVS plus physical exercise or (2) sham TVS plus physical exercise. The application of active TVS consists of electronic stimulation of the auricular concha using a portable device. Sham TVS condition consists of the stimulation of the earlobe that does not cause neurophysiological effects. The primary outcome is the reduction in pain intensity. Additionally, functional capacity, physical performance, pain-related interference, pain-related distress, quality of life in older adults and global change will be measured. Assessments will be conducted at the beginning of the study (baseline), at the end of the intervention and after 1 and 3 months of follow-up. This trial will generate evidence regarding the efficacy of TVS in pain perception in individuals with KOA. This information will serve as an input in the clinical decision-making on the use or non-use of TVS in individuals with KOA. Thus, if the efficacy of TVS is confirmed, a new therapeutic tool may be included in the rehabilitation of individuals with KOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Bascour-Sandoval
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Programa de Magister en Terapía Física Mención Musculoesquelética, Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Rubén Gajardo-Burgos
- Programa de Magister en Terapía Física Mención Musculoesquelética, Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Instituto de Aparato Locomotor y Rehabilitación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
| | - Claudio Muñoz-Poblete
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Programa de Magister en Terapía Física Mención Musculoesquelética, Departamento de Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | | | | | - Agustín Martínez-Molina
- Departamento de Psicología Social y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Germán Gálvez-García
- Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
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Jang SH, Cho MJ. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in disorders of consciousness: A mini-narrative review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31808. [PMID: 36550876 PMCID: PMC9771208 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In this mini review, 6 studies that investigated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) were reviewed. Generally, the application of taVNS in patients with DOC appears to be effective (positive results in 5 of 6 studies) and safe. Furthermore, 4 studies that evaluated changes in the brain following taVNS reported positive results (2 studies, functional magnetic resonance imaging and 2 studies, electroencephalography). Based on our review of the 6 studies, we believe that research and clinical application of taVNS in DOC are in the initial stages and have the following limitations. First, there is a shortage of studies on this topic, with only 6 studies, 2 of which were case reports. Second, 5 studies were performed without control or sham groups. Third, there was no standardization of treatment schedules and electrical stimulation parameters. Therefore, further studies to overcome the above limitations should be encouraged; further original studies involving a larger number of patients in the control or sham groups are needed. However, studies on the optimal conditions (treatment schedule and electrical stimulation parameters) for taVNS in patients with DOC are necessary. Furthermore, neuroimaging studies should be undertaken to elucidate the neurological mechanisms for the recovery of impaired consciousness in DOC and the lasting effects of taVNS on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Ho Jang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Namku, Taegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jye Cho
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Namku, Taegu, Republic of Korea
- * Correspondence: Min Jye Cho, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, 317-1, Daemyung dong, Namgu, Daegu 705-717, Republic of Korea (e-mail: )
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32
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Gonsalves MA, Beck QM, Fukuda AM, Tirrell E, Kokdere F, Kronenberg EF, Iadarola ND, Hagberg S, Carpenter LL, Barredo J. Mechanical Affective Touch Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Effects on Resting State Functional Connectivity. Neuromodulation 2022; 25:1431-1442. [PMID: 35088729 PMCID: PMC9256848 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mechanical Affective Touch Therapy (MATT) is a safe, novel form of noninvasive peripheral nerve stimulation. Although mechanical stimulation activates nerves, we know little about its impact on psychiatric symptoms and their underlying cortical mechanisms. We examined the effects of open-label MATT on resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) and its relationship with anxiety and affective symptomatology (clinical results in separate report). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 22 adults with an Axis I anxiety disorder were recruited from the community. After two initial sessions assisted by research staff, participants self-administered 20-minute sessions of MATT at home at least twice daily for four weeks. Self-report measures of mood and anxiety severity were collected at baseline, two weeks, and four weeks. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging was collected before the initial MATT session (n = 20), immediately after the first session (n = 18), and following four weeks of MATT (n = 14). Seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity analyses identified brain connectivity patterns correlated with responsiveness to MATT. Seeds were based on Neurosynth meta-analytic maps for "anxiety" and "pain" given MATT's hypothesized role in anxiety symptom amelioration and potential mechanism of action through C-tactile afferents, which play an important role in detecting pain and its affective components. Connectivity results were corrected for multiple comparisons (voxel p < 0.005, cluster p-FDR < 0.05). RESULTS Baseline RSFC is predictive of symptom improvement with chronic MATT. Acute increases in insula connectivity were observed between mid-cingulate cortex and postcentral motor regions following the first MATT session. Chronic MATT was associated with increased connectivity between pain and anxiety regions of interest (ROIs) and posterior default mode network (DMN) regions involved in memory and self-reflection; the connectivity changes correlated with decreases in stress and depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS MATT is associated with alterations in RSFC in the DMN of anxiety disorder patients both acutely and after long-term administration, and baseline RSFC is predictive of post-treatment symptom improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan A Gonsalves
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Quincy M Beck
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Andrew M Fukuda
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Eric Tirrell
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Fatih Kokdere
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Eugenia F Kronenberg
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Nicolas D Iadarola
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA; University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Sean Hagberg
- AffectNeuro, Inc, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Linda L Carpenter
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jennifer Barredo
- Butler Hospital Mood Disorders Research Program and Neuromodulation Research Facility, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
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Giraudier M, Ventura-Bort C, Burger AM, Claes N, D'Agostini M, Fischer R, Franssen M, Kaess M, Koenig J, Liepelt R, Nieuwenhuis S, Sommer A, Usichenko T, Van Diest I, von Leupoldt A, Warren CM, Weymar M. Evidence for a modulating effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on salivary alpha-amylase as indirect noradrenergic marker: A pooled mega-analysis. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1378-1388. [PMID: 36183953 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has received tremendous attention as a potential neuromodulator of cognitive and affective functions, which likely exerts its effects via activation of the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NA) system. Reliable effects of taVNS on markers of LC-NA system activity, however, have not been demonstrated yet. METHODS The aim of the present study was to overcome previous limitations by pooling raw data from a large sample of ten taVNS studies (371 healthy participants) that collected salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) as a potential marker of central NA release. RESULTS While a meta-analytic approach using summary statistics did not yield any significant effects, linear mixed model analyses showed that afferent stimulation of the vagus nerve via taVNS increased sAA levels compared to sham stimulation (b = 0.16, SE = 0.05, p = 0.001). When considering potential confounders of sAA, we further replicated previous findings on the diurnal trajectory of sAA activity. CONCLUSION(S) Vagal activation via taVNS increases sAA release compared to sham stimulation, which likely substantiates the assumption that taVNS triggers NA release. Moreover, our results highlight the benefits of data pooling and data sharing in order to allow stronger conclusions in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Giraudier
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Carlos Ventura-Bort
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Nathalie Claes
- Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rico Fischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julian Koenig
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Cologne, Germany
| | - Roman Liepelt
- Department of General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, Action, Faculty of Psychology, University of Hagen (FernUniversität in Hagen), Hagen, Germany
| | - Sander Nieuwenhuis
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Netherlands
| | - Aldo Sommer
- Department of General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, Action, Faculty of Psychology, University of Hagen (FernUniversität in Hagen), Hagen, Germany; Department of Exercise Physiology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Taras Usichenko
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Ilse Van Diest
- Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Christopher M Warren
- Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University, United States
| | - Mathias Weymar
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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Muacevic A, Adler JR. Migraine and Neuromodulation: A Literature Review. Cureus 2022; 14:e31223. [PMID: 36505141 PMCID: PMC9729750 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Migraine is not only known to be one of the most common causes of a headache around the globe but is also the leading neurologic cause of disability worldwide. Migraine has significant social and economic effects. It not only hampers patients' quality of life but also hampers work, public conduct, and family life. Migraine is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the world, so effective management is critical. Currently, medical management is the mainstay remedial approach for migraine, but with time, non-pharmacological approaches, especially neuromodulation, are gaining popularity with a shred of solid backing evidence. Neuromodulation is the process in which specific devices are used to excite the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system with electric or magnetic, or any other form of energy to regulate the abnormal behavior of neural pathways that have occurred due to the disease process. Neuromodulation devices as approved by Food and Drug Administration include non-invasive Vagus nerve stimulators, single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulators, and transcutaneous supraorbital neurostimulators. The purpose of this study is to summarize the information about the advances relating to neuromodulation concerning managing and preventing migraine. This Narrative review article is prepared after analyzing various research papers and publications on PubMed and Google Scholar. This article holds brief information on understanding neuromodulation, its mechanism, its implication in managing migraine, and its different modalities with their mechanism of action and contraindications. These neuromodulation techniques can certainly be used to deal with acute migraine attacks and inhibit their progression to chronic illness. Research is required on the application of neuromodulation in the early diagnosis of migraine, which is what we still lack as a whole medical fraternity.
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Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on major depressive disorder with peripartum onset: A multicenter, open-label, controlled proof-of-concept clinical trial (DELOS-1). J Affect Disord 2022; 316:34-41. [PMID: 35932937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postpartum depression has a high prevalence in the United States (~13 %) and often goes undertreated/untreated. We conducted a multicenter, open-label, proof-of-concept trial to assess the Nēsos wearable, non-invasive, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) system for the treatment of major depressive disorder with peripartum onset (PPD). METHODS Women (n = 25), ages 18 to 45, within 9 months postpartum, and diagnosed with PPD were enrolled at 3 sites. The study included 6 weeks open-label therapy and 2 weeks observation. Efficacy outcomes included change from baseline (CFB) in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD17) total scores, HAM-D17 response and remission, and patient and clinician global impression of change (PGIC, CGIC) scores. Analysis included descriptive statistics and mixed-effects models for repeated measures. RESULTS The most common AEs (≥5 %) were discomfort (n = 5), headache (n = 3), and dizziness (n = 2); all resolved without intervention. No serious AEs or deaths occurred. Baseline mean HAM-D17 score was 18.4. Week 6 least squares (LS) mean CFB in HAM-D17 score was -9.7; 74 % achieved response and 61 % achieved remission. At week 6, at least some improvement was reported by 21 of 22 (95 %) clinicians on CGIC and 22 of 23 (96 %) participants on PGIC. LIMITATIONS This was a single-arm, open-label study, and enrollment was limited to participants with mild-to-moderate peripartum depression. CONCLUSION Results from this proof-of-concept study suggest that the Nēsos taVNS system is well tolerated and may be an effective non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. Further evaluation in larger sham-controlled studies is needed. CLINICALTRIALS govNCT03972995.
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Rajiah R, Takahashi K, Aziz Q, Ruffle JK. Brain effect of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation: A meta-analysis of neuroimaging evidence. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022:e14484. [PMID: 36281057 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system is common throughout many functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs) that have been historically difficult to treat. In recent years, transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) has shown promise for improving FGID symptoms. However, the brain effects of tVNS remain unclear, which we investigated by neuroimaging meta-analysis. METHODS A total of 157 studies were identified, 4 of which were appropriate for inclusion, encompassing 60 healthy human participants. Using activation likelihood analysis estimation, we statistically quantified functional brain activity changes across three domains: (1) tVNS vs. null stimulation, (2) tVNS vs. sham stimulation, and (3) sham stimulation vs. null stimulation. KEY RESULTS tVNS significantly increased activity in the insula, anterior cingulate, inferior and superior frontal gyri, caudate and putamen, and reduced activity in the hippocampi, occipital fusiform gyri, temporal pole, and middle temporal gyri, when compared to null stimulation (all corrected p < 0.005). tVNS increased activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus, left thalamus, caudate, and paracingulate gyrus and reduced activity in right thalamus, posterior cingulate cortex, and temporal fusiform cortex, when compared to sham stimulation (all corrected p < 0.005). Sham stimulation significantly increased activity in the insula and reduced activity in the posterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus (all corrected p < 0.001), when contrasted to null stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Brain effects of tVNS localize to regions associated with both physiological autonomic regulation and regions whose activity is modulated across numerous FGIDs, which may provide a neural basis for efficacy of this treatment. Functional activity differences between sham and null stimulation illustrate the importance of robust control procedures for future trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Rajiah
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Kazuya Takahashi
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Qasim Aziz
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - James K Ruffle
- Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
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Li ZD, Qiu HJ, Wang XQ, Zhang CC, Zhang YJ. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in poststroke cognitive impairment: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e063803. [PMID: 36198457 PMCID: PMC9535199 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As one of the most common stroke sequelae, poststroke cognitive impairment significantly impacts 17.6%-83% of survivors, affecting their rehabilitation, daily living and quality of life. Improving cognitive abilities among patients in stroke recovery is therefore critical and urgent. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) is a non-invasive, safe, cost-effective treatment with great potential for improving the cognitive function of poststroke patients. This clinical research will evaluate the effectiveness, and help elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms, of TAVNS for improving poststroke cognitive function. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A single-centre, parallel-group, allocation concealment, assessor-blinded randomised controlled clinical trial. We will allocate 88 recruited participants to the TAVNS or sham group for an intervention that will run for 8 weeks, 5 days per week with twice daily sessions lasting 30 min each. Blood tests will be performed and questionnaires issued at baseline and 8-week and 12 week follow-ups. Primary outcomes will be changes in cognitive function scores. Secondary outcomes will be changes in activities of daily living, quality of life and serum oxidative stress indicators. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine has approved the protocol (No. HN-LL-YJSLW-2022200). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and presented at scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ChiCTR2200057808.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Dong Li
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hang-Jian Qiu
- School of Nursing, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Qian Wang
- School of Nursing, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Cheng-Cheng Zhang
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yue-Juan Zhang
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Ferstl M, Teckentrup V, Lin WM, Kräutlein F, Kühnel A, Klaus J, Walter M, Kroemer NB. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation boosts mood recovery after effort exertion. Psychol Med 2022; 52:3029-3039. [PMID: 33586647 PMCID: PMC9693679 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720005073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mood plays an important role in our life which is illustrated by the disruptive impact of aberrant mood states in depression. Although vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to improve symptoms of depression, the exact mechanism is still elusive, and it is an open question whether non-invasive VNS could be used to swiftly and robustly improve mood. METHODS Here, we investigated the effect of left- and right-sided transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) v. a sham control condition on mood after the exertion of physical and cognitive effort in 82 healthy participants (randomized cross-over design) using linear mixed-effects and hierarchical Bayesian analyses of mood ratings. RESULTS We found that 90 min of either left-sided or right-sided taVNS improved positive mood [b = 5.11, 95% credible interval, CI (1.39-9.01), 9.6% improvement relative to the mood intercept, BF10 = 7.69, pLME = 0.017], yet only during the post-stimulation phase. Moreover, lower baseline scores of positive mood were associated with greater taVNS-induced improvements in motivation [r = -0.42, 95% CI (-0.58 to -0.21), BF10 = 249]. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that taVNS boosts mood after a prolonged period of effort exertion with concurrent stimulation and that acute motivational effects of taVNS are partly dependent on initial mood states. Collectively, our results show that taVNS may help quickly improve affect after a mood challenge, potentially by modulating interoceptive signals contributing to the reappraisal of effortful behavior. This suggests that taVNS could be a useful add-on to current behavioral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Ferstl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Teckentrup
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wy Ming Lin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Franziska Kräutlein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anne Kühnel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry and International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Klaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nils B. Kroemer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Zhang H, Li CL, Qu Y, Yang YX, Du J, Zhao Y. Effects and neuroprotective mechanisms of vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive impairment with traumatic brain injury in animal studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:963334. [PMID: 36237612 PMCID: PMC9551312 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.963334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive impairment is the main clinical feature after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is usually characterized by attention deficits, memory loss, and decreased executive function. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been reported to show potential improvement in the cognition level after traumatic brain injury in clinical and preclinical studies. However, this topic has not yet been systematically reviewed in published literature. In this study, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of VNS on cognitive function in animal models of TBI and their underlying mechanisms. Methods We performed a literature search on PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception to December 2021 to identify studies describing the effects of VNS on animal models of TBI. Results Overall, nine studies were identified in animal models (36 mice, 268 rats, and 27 rabbits). An analysis of these studies showed that VNS can improve the performance of TBI animals in behavioral tests (beam walk test: SMD: 4.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.66, 6.23; p < 0.00001) and locomotor placing tests (SMD: -2.39; 95% CI: -4.07, -0.71; p = 0.005), whereas it reduced brain edema (SMD: -1.58; 95% CI: -2.85, -0.31; p = 0. 01) and decrease TNF-α (SMD: -3.49; 95% CI: -5.78, -1.2; p = 0.003) and IL-1β (SMD: -2.84; 95% CI: -3.96, -1.71; p < 0.00001) expression level in the brain tissue. However, the checklist for SYRCLE showed a moderate risk of bias (quality score between 30% and 60%), mainly because of the lack of sample size calculation, random assignment, and blinded assessment. Conclusion The present review showed that VNS can effectively promote cognitive impairment and neuropathology in animal models of TBI. We hope that the results of this systematic review can be applied to improve the methodological quality of animal experiments on TBI, which will provide more important and conclusive evidence on the clinical value of VNS. To further confirm these results, there is a need for high-quality TBI animal studies with sufficient sample size and a more comprehensive outcome evaluation. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021290797, identifier: CRD42021290797.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chun-liu Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Yun Qu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-xuan Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
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Gianlorenco ACL, de Melo PS, Marduy A, Kim AY, Kim CK, Choi H, Song JJ, Fregni F. Electroencephalographic Patterns in taVNS: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092208. [PMID: 36140309 PMCID: PMC9496216 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a newer delivery system using a non-invasive stimulation device placed at the ear. taVNS research is focused on clinical trials showing potential therapeutic benefits, however the neurophysiological effects of this stimulation on brain activity are still unclear. We propose a systematic review that aims to describe the effects of taVNS on EEG measures and identify taVNS parameters that can potentially lead to consistent EEG-mediated biomarkers for this therapy. A systematic literature review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) and the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews. Clinical trials examining EEG parameters were considered, including absolute and relative power, coherence, degree of symmetry, evoked potentials, and peak frequency of all bands. According to our criteria, 18 studies (from 122 articles) were included. Our findings show a general trend towards increased EEG power spectrum activity in lower frequencies, and changes on early components of the ERP related to inhibitory tasks. This review suggests that quantitative electroencephalography can be used to assess the effects of taVNS on brain activity, however more studies are needed to systematically establish the specific effects and metrics that would reflect the non-invasive stimulation through the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Carolyna L. Gianlorenco
- Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos 13565-090, Brazil
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Paulo S. de Melo
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Medicine, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador 40290-000, Brazil
| | - Anna Marduy
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- União Metropolitana de Ensino e Cultura (UNIME) Salvador, Salvador 42700-000, Brazil
| | - Angela Yun Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul 08308, Korea
| | - Chi Kyung Kim
- Department of Neurology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul 08308, Korea
| | - Hyuk Choi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 08308, Korea
- Neurive Co., Ltd., Gimhae 08308, Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Song
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Medical Center, Seoul 08308, Korea
- Neurive Co., Ltd., Gimhae 08308, Korea
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Correspondence:
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Tarasenko A, Guazzotti S, Minot T, Oganesyan M, Vysokov N. Determination of the Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on the Heart Rate Variability Using a Machine Learning Pipeline. Bioelectricity 2022; 4:168-177. [PMID: 36168512 PMCID: PMC9508455 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2021.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We are all aware of day-to-day healthy stress, but, when sustained for long periods, stress is believed to lead to serious physical and mental health issues. Materials and Methods In this study, we investigated the potential effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on stress processing as reflected in the electrocardiogram (ECG)-derived biomarkers of stress adaptability. Stress reflecting biomarkers included a range of heart rate variability metrics: standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN), root mean squared of successive differences in heartbeat intervals (RMSSD), low-frequency component, high-frequency component and their ratio (LF, HF, and LF/HF).In addition, we created a machine learning model capable of distinguishing between the stimulated and nonstimulated conditions from the ECG-derive data from various subjects and states. The model consisted of a deep convolutional neural network, which was trained on R-R interval (RRI) data extracted from ECG and time traces of LF, HF, LF/HF, SDNN, and RMSSD. Results Only LF/HF ratio demonstrated a statistically significant change in response to stimulation. Although the LF/HF ratio is expected to increase during exposure to stress, we have observed that stimulation during exposure to stress counteracts this increase or even reduces the LF/HF ratio. This could be an indication that the vagus nerve stimulation decreases the sympathetic activation during stress inducement.Our Machine Learning model achieved an accuracy of 70% with no significant variations across the three states (baseline, stress, and recovery). However, training an analogous neural network to identify the states (baseline, stress, and recovery) proved to be unsuccessful. Conclusion Overall, in this study, we showed further evidence of the beneficial effect of taVNS on stress processing. Importantly we have also demonstrated the promising potential of ECG metrics as a biomarker for the development of closed-loop stimulation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefano Guazzotti
- BrainPatch Ltd., London, United Kingdom.,School of Physics and CRANN Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Nickolai Vysokov
- BrainPatch Ltd., London, United Kingdom.,Address correspondence to: Nickolai Vysokov, PhD, BrainPatch Ltd., Unit 324, Edinburgh House, 170 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5DP, United Kingdom
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Höper S, Kaess M, Koenig J. Prefrontal cortex oxygenation and autonomic nervous system activity under transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in adolescents. Auton Neurosci 2022; 241:103008. [PMID: 35724559 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2022.103008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Neurovisceral Integration Model (NIM) proposes a complex interplay of visceral and neural structures that are crucial for adaptive responses to environmental demands. The aim of the present study was to investigate this circuitry using experimental manipulation via transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), measures of peripheral autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation, quantified using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). METHODS In a sample of n = 30 adolescents (age 14-17 years), tVNS versus sham stimulation was applied each during a 15-minute stimulation phase in a within-subject-cross-randomized-design. Mean oxygenation of the PFC and functional connectivity were assessed using fNIRS. Additionally, heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR), electrodermal activity (EDA), and saliva alpha-amylase (sAA) were assessed to quantify peripheral ANS activity. RESULTS Using linear mixed-effects models, HRV increased (p < .0001) and HR (p < .0001) decreased during tVNS compared to sham. No effect on EDA or sAA was observed. PFC oxygenation increased over time under tVNS compared to sham (p = .017). The relative increase in HRV and decrease in HR was associated with increased oxygenation of the PFC (HR: p < .0001; HRV: p = .007). Exploratory analyses illustrated, that under tVNS, PFC connectivity increased compared to sham. CONCLUSION The present study supports the NIM by showing that tVNS influences ANS activity and that relative changes in PFC oxygenation contribute to these effects. Implications of these findings and directions for further research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Höper
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Kaess
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julian Koenig
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Cologne, Germany.
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Impact of Non-Pharmacological Interventions on the Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169097. [PMID: 36012362 PMCID: PMC9409393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide characterized by the deposition of lipids and fibrous elements in the form of atheroma plaques in vascular areas which are hemodynamically overloaded. The global burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is steadily increasing and is considered the largest known non-infectious pandemic. The management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is increasing the cost of health care worldwide, which is a concern for researchers and physicians and has caused them to strive to find effective long-term strategies to improve the efficiency of treatments by managing conventional risk factors. Primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the preferred method to reduce cardiovascular risk. Fasting, a Mediterranean diet, and caloric restriction can be considered useful clinical tools. The protective impact of physical exercise over the cardiovascular system has been studied in recent years with the intention of explaining the mechanisms involved; the increase in heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes and regulators of cardiac myocyte proliferation concentration seem to be the molecular and biochemical shifts that are involved. Developing new therapeutic strategies such as vagus nerve stimulation, either to prevent or slow the disease’s onset and progression, will surely have a profound effect on the lives of millions of people.
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Czura CJ, Bikson M, Charvet L, Chen JDZ, Franke M, Fudim M, Grigsby E, Hamner S, Huston JM, Khodaparast N, Krames E, Simon BJ, Staats P, Vonck K. Neuromodulation Strategies to Reduce Inflammation and Improve Lung Complications in COVID-19 Patients. Front Neurol 2022; 13:897124. [PMID: 35911909 PMCID: PMC9329660 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.897124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, races across academia and industry have been initiated to identify and develop disease modifying or preventative therapeutic strategies has been initiated. The primary focus has been on pharmacological treatment of the immune and respiratory system and the development of a vaccine. The hyperinflammatory state (“cytokine storm”) observed in many cases of COVID-19 indicates a prognostically negative disease progression that may lead to respiratory distress, multiple organ failure, shock, and death. Many critically ill patients continue to be at risk for significant, long-lasting morbidity or mortality. The human immune and respiratory systems are heavily regulated by the central nervous system, and intervention in the signaling of these neural pathways may permit targeted therapeutic control of excessive inflammation and pulmonary bronchoconstriction. Several technologies, both invasive and non-invasive, are available and approved for clinical use, but have not been extensively studied in treatment of the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. This manuscript provides an overview of the role of the nervous system in inflammation and respiration, the current understanding of neuromodulatory techniques from preclinical and clinical studies and provides a rationale for testing non-invasive neuromodulation to modulate acute systemic inflammation and respiratory dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other pathogens. The authors of this manuscript have co-founded the International Consortium on Neuromodulation for COVID-19 to advocate for and support studies of these technologies in the current coronavirus pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Czura
- Convergent Medical Technologies, Inc., Oyster Bay, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Christopher J. Czura
| | - Marom Bikson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Leigh Charvet
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jiande D. Z. Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Marat Fudim
- Division of Cardiology, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | | | - Sam Hamner
- Cala Health, Burlingame, CA, United States
| | - Jared M. Huston
- Departments of Surgery and Science Education, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | | | - Elliot Krames
- Pacific Pain Treatment Center, Napa, CA, United States
| | | | - Peter Staats
- National Spine and Pain, ElectroCore, Inc., Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Kristl Vonck
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Konjusha A, Colzato L, Ghin F, Stock A, Beste C. Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for alcohol use disorder: A chance to improve treatment? Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13202. [DOI: 10.1111/adb.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anyla Konjusha
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Lorenza Colzato
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Filippo Ghin
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Ann‐Kathrin Stock
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
- Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology TU Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine TU Dresden Dresden Germany
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Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy patients enhances cooperative behavior in the prisoner's dilemma task. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10255. [PMID: 35715460 PMCID: PMC9205877 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14237-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The vagus nerve constitutes a key link between the autonomic and the central nervous system. Previous studies provide evidence for the impact of vagal activity on distinct cognitive processes including functions related to social cognition. Recent studies in animals and humans show that vagus nerve stimulation is associated with enhanced reward-seeking and dopamine-release in the brain. Social interaction recruits similar brain circuits to reward processing. We hypothesize that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) boosts rewarding aspects of social behavior and compare the impact of transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) and sham stimulation on social interaction in 19 epilepsy patients in a double-blind pseudo-randomized study with cross-over design. Using a well-established paradigm, i.e., the prisoner’s dilemma, we investigate effects of stimulation on cooperative behavior, as well as interactions of stimulation effects with patient characteristics. A repeated-measures ANOVA and a linear mixed-effects model provide converging evidence that tVNS boosts cooperation. Post-hoc correlations reveal that this effect varies as a function of neuroticism, a personality trait linked to the dopaminergic system. Behavioral modeling indicates that tVNS induces a behavioral starting bias towards cooperation, which is independent of the decision process. This study provides evidence for the causal influence of vagus nerve activity on social interaction.
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Dolphin H, Dukelow T, Finucane C, Commins S, McElwaine P, Kennelly SP. “The Wandering Nerve Linking Heart and Mind” – The Complementary Role of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Modulating Neuro-Cardiovascular and Cognitive Performance. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:897303. [PMID: 35784842 PMCID: PMC9245542 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.897303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, providing afferent information about visceral sensation, integrity and somatic sensations to the CNS via brainstem nuclei to subcortical and cortical structures. Its efferent arm influences GI motility and secretion, cardiac ionotropy, chonotropy and heart rate variability, blood pressure responses, bronchoconstriction and modulates gag and cough responses via palatine and pharyngeal innervation. Vagus nerve stimulation has been utilized as a successful treatment for intractable epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, and new non-invasive transcutaneous (t-VNS) devices offer equivalent therapeutic potential as invasive devices without the surgical risks. t-VNS offers exciting potential as a therapeutic intervention in cognitive decline and aging populations, classically affected by reduced cerebral perfusion by modulating both limbic and frontal cortical structures, regulating cerebral perfusion and improving parasympathetic modulation of the cardiovascular system. In this narrative review we summarize the research to date investigating the cognitive effects of VNS therapy, and its effects on neurocardiovascular stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Dolphin
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- *Correspondence: Helena Dolphin,
| | - Tim Dukelow
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Finucane
- Department of Medical Physics, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Commins
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Paul McElwaine
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean P. Kennelly
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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48
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Colzato LS, Hommel B, Zhang W, Roessner V, Beste C. The metacontrol hypothesis as diagnostic framework of OCD and ADHD: A dimensional approach based on shared neurobiological vulnerability. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 137:104677. [PMID: 35461986 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are multi-faceted neuropsychiatric conditions that in many aspects appear to be each other's antipodes. We suggest a dimensional approach, according to which these partially opposing disorders fall onto a continuum that reflects variability regarding alterations of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits and of the processing of neural noise during cognition. By using theoretical accounts of human cognitive metacontrol, we develop a framework according to which OCD can be characterized by a chronic bias towards exaggerated cognitive persistence, equivalent to a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-which facilitates perseverative behaviour but impairs mental flexibility. In contrast, ADHD is characterized by a chronic bias towards inflated cognitive flexibility, equivalent to a low SNR-which increases behavioural variability but impairs the focusing on one goal and on relevant information. We argue that, when pharmacology is not feasible, novel treatments of these disorders may involve methods to manipulate the signal-to-noise ratio via non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, in order to normalize the situational imbalance between cognitive persistence and cognitive flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza S Colzato
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenxin Zhang
- Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Veit Roessner
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany.
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
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49
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Zhu S, Qing Y, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Ding F, Zhang R, Yao S, Kendrick KM, Zhao W. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation increases eye-gaze on salient facial features and oxytocin release. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14107. [PMID: 35638321 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Non-invasive, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) via the ear is used therapeutically in epilepsy, pain, and depression, and may also have beneficial effects on social cognition. However, the underlying mechanisms of taVNS are unclear and evidence regarding its role in social cognition improvement is limited. To investigate the impact of taVNS on social cognition we have studied its effects on gaze toward emotional faces in combination with eye-tracking and on the release of the neuropeptide oxytocin which plays a key role in influencing social cognition and motivation. A total of 54 subjects were enrolled (49 were included in the final analysis) in a sham-controlled, participant-blind, crossover experiment, consisting of two treatment sessions 1 week apart. In one session participants received 30-min taVNS (tragus), and in the other, they received 30-min sham (earlobe) stimulation with the treatment order counterbalanced. The proportion of time spent viewing the faces and facial features (eyes, nose, and mouth) was measured together with resting pupil size. Additionally, saliva samples were taken for the measurement of oxytocin concentrations by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Saliva oxytocin concentrations increased significantly after taVNS compared to sham stimulation, while resting pupil size did not. In addition, taVNS increased time spent viewing the nose region irrespective of face emotion, and this was positively correlated with increased saliva oxytocin concentrations. Our findings suggest that taVNS biases visual attention toward socially salient facial features across different emotions and this is associated with its effects on increasing endogenous oxytocin release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Zhu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanan Qing
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Fangyuan Ding
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education of China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Committee of Health and Family Planning of China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuxia Yao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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50
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Tsanov M. Basal Forebrain Impairment: Understanding the Mnemonic Function of the Septal Region Translates in Therapeutic Advances. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:916499. [PMID: 35712645 PMCID: PMC9194835 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.916499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal forebrain is one of the three major brain circuits involved in episodic memory formation together with the hippocampus and the diencephalon. The dysfunction of each of these regions is known to cause anterograde amnesia. While the hippocampal pyramidal neurons are known to encode episodic information and the diencephalic structures are known to provide idiothetic information, the contribution of the basal forebrain to memory formation has been exclusively associated with septo-hippocampal cholinergic signaling. Research data from the last decade broadened our understanding about the role of septal region in memory formation. Animal studies revealed that septal neurons process locomotor, rewarding and attentional stimuli. The integration of these signals results in a systems model for the mnemonic function of the medial septum that could guide new therapeutic strategies for basal forebrain impairment (BFI). BFI includes the disorders characterized with basal forebrain amnesia and neurodegenerative disorders that affect the basal forebrain. Here, we demonstrate how the updated model of septal mnemonic function can lead to innovative translational treatment approaches that include pharmacological, instrumental and behavioral techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Tsanov
- UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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