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Lee YS, Kim WJ, Shim M, Hong KH, Choi H, Song JJ, Hwang HJ. Investigating neuromodulatory effect of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation on resting-state electroencephalography. Biomed Eng Lett 2024; 14:677-687. [PMID: 38946812 PMCID: PMC11208373 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-024-00361-8] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuromodulatory effects of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and determine optimal taVNS duration to induce the meaningful neuromodulatroty effects using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG). Method: Fifteen participants participated in this study and taVNS was applied to the cymba conchae for a duration of 40 min. Resting-state EEG was measured before and during taVNS application. EEG power spectral density (PSD) and brain network indices (clustering coefficient and path length) were calculated across five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma), respectively, to assess the neuromodulatory effect of taVNS. Moreover, we divided the whole brain region into the five regions of interest (frontal, central, left temporal, right temporal, and occipital) to confirm the neuromodulation effect on each specific brain region. Result: Our results demonstrated a significant increase in EEG frequency powers across all five frequency bands during taVNS. Furthermore, significant changes in network indices were observed in the theta and gamma bands compared to the pre-taVNS measurements. These effects were particularly pronounced after approximately 10 min of stimulation, with a more dominant impact observed after approximately 20-30 min of taVNS application. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that taVNS can effectively modulate the brain activity, thereby exerting significant effects on brain characteristics. Moreover, taVNS duration of approximately 20-30 min was considered appropriate for inducing a stable and efficient neuromodulatory effects. Consequently, these findings have the potential to contribute to research aimed at enhancing cognitive and motor functions through the modulation of EEG using taVNS. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13534-024-00361-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Sung Lee
- Department of Electronics and Information, Korea University, Sejong, 30019 Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Jin Kim
- Department of Electronics and Information, Korea University, Sejong, 30019 Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Miseon Shim
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Tech University of Korea, Siheung, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hwan Hong
- Neurive Co., Ltd, Gimhae, 50969 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuk Choi
- Neurive Co., Ltd, Gimhae, 50969 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 028411 Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Song
- Neurive Co., Ltd, Gimhae, 50969 Republic of Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, 08308 Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Jeong Hwang
- Department of Electronics and Information, Korea University, Sejong, 30019 Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
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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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Chen L, Tang C, Wang Z, Zhang L, Gu B, Liu X, Ming D. Enhancing Motor Sequence Learning via Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS): An EEG Study. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2024; 28:1285-1296. [PMID: 38109248 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2023.3344176] [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: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Motor learning plays a crucial role in human life, and various neuromodulation methods have been utilized to strengthen or improve it. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has gained increasing attention due to its non-invasive nature, affordability and ease of implementation. Although the potential of taVNS on regulating motor learning has been suggested, its actual regulatory effect has yet been fully explored. Electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis provides an in-depth understanding of cognitive processes involved in motor learning so as to offer methodological support for regulation of motor learning. To investigate the effect of taVNS on motor learning, this study recruited 22 healthy subjects to participate a single-blind, sham-controlled, and within-subject serial reaction time task (SRTT) experiment. Every subject involved in two sessions at least one week apart and received a 20-minute active/sham taVNS in each session. Behavioral indicators as well as EEG characteristics during the task state, were extracted and analyzed. The results revealed that compared to the sham group, the active group showed higher learning performance. Additionally, the EEG results indicated that after taVNS, the motor-related cortical potential amplitudes and alpha-gamma modulation index decreased significantly and functional connectivity based on partial directed coherence towards frontal lobe was enhanced. These findings suggest that taVNS can improve motor learning, mainly through enhancing cognitive and memory functions rather than simple movement learning. This study confirms the positive regulatory effect of taVNS on motor learning, which is particularly promising as it offers a potential avenue for enhancing motor skills and facilitating rehabilitation.
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Naparstek S, Yeh AK, Mills-Finnerty C. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) applications in cognitive aging: a review and commentary. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1145207. [PMID: 37496757 PMCID: PMC10366452 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1145207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiating healthy from pathological aging trajectories is extremely timely, as the global population faces an inversion where older adults will soon outnumber younger 5:1. Many cognitive functions (e.g., memory, executive functions, and processing speed) decline with age, a process that can begin as early as midlife, and which predicts subsequent diagnosis with dementia. Although dementia is a devastating and costly diagnosis, there remains limited evidence for medications, therapies, and devices that improve cognition or attenuate the transition into dementia. There is an urgent need to intervene early in neurodegenerative processes leading to dementia (e.g., depression and mild cognitive impairment). In this targeted review and commentary, we highlight transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) as a neurostimulation method with unique opportunities for applications in diseases of aging, reviewing recent literature, feasibility of use with remote data collection methods/telehealth, as well as limitations and conflicts in the literature. In particular, small sample sizes, uneven age distributions of participants, lack of standardized protocols, and oversampling of non-representative groups (e.g., older adults with no comorbid diagnoses) limit our understanding of the potential of this method. We offer recommendations for how to improve representativeness, statistical power, and generalizability of tVNS research by integrating remote data collection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Naparstek
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ashley K. Yeh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Colleen Mills-Finnerty
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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Nagai M, Dote K, Kato M, Sasaki S, Oda N, Förster CY. Case report: SGLT2i, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, and their effects on intrarenal venous flow pattern in HFpEF. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:999831. [PMID: 36188455 PMCID: PMC9523255 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.999831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal congestion in heart failure (HF) is a predictor of the prognosis of cardiovascular disease. The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on renal congestion has not been reported in HF. A 77-year-old man with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was referred to our hospital because of poor response to loop diuretics. Echocardiography showed severe tricuspid regurgitation with dilation of the right atrium. Three months after adding SGLT2i, body weight was lost without worsening of renal function. Left and right doppler-derived intrarenal venous flow (IRVF) has been changed from a monophasic to a discontinuous pattern with a systolic interruption. One month later, he discontinued SGLT2i administration at his own discretion. In order to stabilizing autonomic balance, transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) was performed via left ear tragus. One hour after transcutaneous tVNS, ipsilateral IRVF has been dramatically improved from a fusional biphasic to a discontinuous pattern with a systolic interruption. SGLT2i and tVNS may be associated with renal decongestion in HFpEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiaki Nagai
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
- *Correspondence: Michiaki Nagai,
| | - 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
| | - Carola Y. Förster
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, Würzburg University, Würzburg, Germany
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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; 10:2208. [PMID: 36140309 PMCID: PMC9496216 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092208] [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: 06/27/2022] [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
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