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Cong L, Yu X, Huang M, Sun J, Lv H, Zhang T, Dang W, Teng C, Xiong K, Ma J, Hu W, Wang J, Cheng S. Enhancing emotion regulation: investigating the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation at PC6 in reducing fear of heights. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1371014. [PMID: 38633874 PMCID: PMC11021653 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1371014] [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: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at Neiguan acupoint (PC6) on the physiological and behavioral responses of participants exposed in virtual height. 40 participants were included in the study and were randomly assigned to either a control group or an intervention group. Participants had an immersive experience with a VR interactive platform that provided somatosensory interaction in height stimulation scenes. Psychological scores, behavioral and cognitive performance, and physiological responses were recorded and analyzed. The results indicated that the intervention group had significantly lower fear scores compared to the control group. Analysis of heart rate variability revealed that the intervention group exhibited improved heart rate variability, indicating enhanced cardiovascular function and emotion regulation. The behavioral and cognitive results demonstrated that the intervention group exhibited higher left eye openness, faster reaction times, and greater movement distance, suggesting enhanced attentional focus, cognitive processing, and reduced avoidance behaviors. These findings suggest that TEAS at PC6 can effectively reduce fear and improve the regulation of physiological and behavioral responses to negative emotional stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cong
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Meiqing Huang
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jicheng Sun
- Center for Military Medicine Innovation, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hao Lv
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Taihui Zhang
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Weitao Dang
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Chaolin Teng
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Kaiwen Xiong
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jin Ma
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wendong Hu
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jianqi Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Shan Cheng
- School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China
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Zhou H, Xiong T, Dai Z, Zou H, Wang X, Tang H, Huang Y, Sun H, You W, Yao Z, Lu Q. Brain-heart interaction disruption in major depressive disorder: disturbed rhythm modulation of the cardiac cycle on brain transient theta bursts. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:595-607. [PMID: 37318589 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01628-4] [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] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Brain neurons support arousal and cognitive activity in the form of spectral transient bursts and cooperate with the peripheral nervous system to adapt to the surrounding environment. However, the temporal dynamics of brain-heart interactions have not been confirmed, and the mechanism of brain-heart interactions in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. This study aimed to provide direct evidence for brain-heart synchronization in temporal dynamics and clarify the mechanism of brain-heart interaction disruption in MDD. Eight-minute resting-state (closed eyes) electroencephalograph and electrocardiogram signals were acquired simultaneously. The Jaccard index (JI) was used to measure the temporal synchronization between cortical theta transient bursts and cardiac cycle activity (diastole and systole) in 90 MDD patients and 44 healthy controls (HCs) at rest. The deviation JI was used to reflect the equilibrium of brain activity between diastole and systole. The results showed that the diastole JI was higher than the systole JI in both the HC and MDD groups; compared to HCs, the deviation JI attenuated at F4, F6, FC2, and FC4 in the MDD patients. The eccentric deviation JI was negatively correlated with the despair factor scores of the HAMD, and after 4 weeks of antidepressant treatment, the eccentric deviation JI was positively correlated with the despair factor scores of the HAMD. It was concluded that brain-heart synchronization existed in the theta band in healthy individuals and that disturbed rhythm modulation of the cardiac cycle on brain transient theta bursts at right frontoparietal sites led to brain-heart interaction disruption in MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Xiong
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongpeng Dai
- School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Haowen Zou
- Nanjing Brain Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Xvmiao Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinghong Huang
- Nanjing Brain Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Sun
- Nanjing Brain Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei You
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijian Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China.
- Nanjing Brain Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qing Lu
- School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
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Battaglia S, Thayer JF. Functional interplay between central and autonomic nervous systems in human fear conditioning. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:504-506. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Nagai M, Förster CY, Dote K. Sex Hormone-Specific Neuroanatomy of Takotsubo Syndrome: Is the Insular Cortex a Moderator? Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010110. [PMID: 35053258 PMCID: PMC8773903 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), a transient form of dysfunction in the heart’s left ventricle, occurs predominantly in postmenopausal women who have emotional stress. Earlier studies support the concept that the human circulatory system is modulated by a cortical network (consisting of the anterior cingulate gyrus, amygdala, and insular cortex (Ic)) that plays a pivotal role in the central autonomic nervous system in relation to emotional stressors. The Ic plays a crucial role in the sympathovagal balance, and decreased levels of female sex hormones have been speculated to change functional cerebral asymmetry, with a possible link to autonomic instability. In this review, we focus on the Ic as an important moderator of the human brain–heart axis in association with sex hormones. We also summarize the current knowledge regarding the sex-specific neuroanatomy in TTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiaki Nagai
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima 731-0293, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-82-815-5211; Fax: +81-82-814-1791
| | - Carola Yvette Förster
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Keigo Dote
- Department of Cardiology, Hiroshima City Asa Hospital, Hiroshima 731-0293, Japan;
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