Can transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation mitigate vigilance loss? Examining the effects of stimulation at individualized vs. constant current intensity DOI Open Access
Fernando Gabriel Luna, Juan Lupiáñez, Stefanie König

et al.

Authorea (Authorea), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 27, 2024

According to the arousal model of vigilance, locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system modulates sustained attention over long periods by regulating physiological arousal. Recent research has proposed that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) indirect markers LC-NE activity, although its effects on vigilance have not yet been examined. Aiming develop a safe and non-invasive procedure prevent failures in prolonged tasks, present study examined possibility mitigate loss stimulating via taVNS. Following pre-registered protocol (https://osf.io/tu2xy/), 50 participants completed three repeated-sessions randomized order which either active taVNS at individualized intensity set participant, 0.5 mA for all participants, or sham taVNS, was delivered while performing an attentional task (i.e., ANTI-Vea). Changes salivary alpha-amylase cortisol concentrations were measured as activity. Self-reports feelings associated with guessing rate active/sham conditions supported efficacy single-blind procedure. Contrary our predictions, observed decrement modulated Pairwise comparisons showed mitigation reduction across time. Interestingly, Spearman’s correlational analyses some inter-individual LC-NE, evidenced positive associations between changes but We highlight relevance replicating extending outcomes, investigating further parameters other

Language: Английский

Tonic and phasic transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) both evoke rapid and transient pupil dilation DOI Creative Commons
Lina Skora, Anna Marzecová, Gerhard Jocham

et al.

Brain stimulation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 233 - 244

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

BackgroundTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS or taVNS) is a non-invasive method of electrical the afferent pathway nerve, suggested to drive changes in putative physiological markers noradrenergic activity, including pupil dilation.ObjectiveHowever, it unknown whether different taVNS modes can map onto phasic and tonic activity. The effects on dilation humans are inconsistent, largely due differences protocols. Here, we attempted address these issues.MethodsWe investigated under (1 s) (30 taVNS, pre-registered, single-blind, sham-controlled, within-subject cross-over design, absence behavioural task.ResultsPhasic induced rapid increase size over baseline, significantly greater than sham stimulation, which rapidly declined after offset. Tonic similarly (and larger sham) returning baseline within 5 s, despite ongoing stimulation. Thus, both active closely resembled effect. There were no size, sustained size.ConclusionsThese results suggest that phasic- tonic-like standard parameters may modulate primarily mode as indexed by evoked dilation, above somatosensory effects. This result sheds light temporal profile with implications for their applicability further research.

Language: Английский

Citations

20
Stimulate to Remember? The Effects of Short Burst of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on Memory Performance and Pupil Dilation DOI Creative Commons
Mareike Ludwig, Matthew J. Betts,

Dorothea Hämmerer

et al.

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 62(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT The decline in noradrenergic (NE) locus coeruleus (LC) function aging is thought to be implicated episodic memory decline. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), which supports LC function, might serve preserve or improve aging. However, taVNS effects are generally very heterogeneous, and it currently unclear whether has an effect on memory. In this study, emotional task with negative events involving the LC‐NE system was combined short burst of event‐related (3 s) younger adults ( N = 24). aim investigate taVNS‐induced changes pupil dilation during encoding possible improvements (emotional) performance for early delayed (24 h) recognition. Negative were associated increased better performance. Additionally, real as compared sham no selectively events. Short bursts stimulation, sham, led increase improvement over time, likely due attention‐inducing sensory modulation electrical stimulation.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Does transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation alter pupil dilation? A living Bayesian meta-analysis DOI Creative Commons

Ipek Pervaz,

Lilly Thurn,

Cecilia Vezzani

et al.

Brain stimulation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 18(2), P. 148 - 157

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Three Hundred Hertz Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) Impacts Pupil Size Non‐Linearly as a Function of Intensity DOI Creative Commons
Ian Phillips, Michael Johns, Nick B. Pandža

et al.

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 62(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a neuromodulatory technique that may have numerous potential health and human performance benefits. However, optimal parameters for maximizing taVNS efficacy are unknown. Progress impeded by disagreement on the identification of biomarker reliably indexes activation systems targeted taVNS, including locus coeruleus‐norepinephrine (LC‐NE) system. Pupil size varies with LC‐NE activity one has shown inconsistent sensitivity to in prior studies. The present study examined relationship between pupil using promising behavioral effects studies but received comparatively little attention. Participants trains 50 μs pulses delivered continuously below perceptual threshold at 300 Hz left external acoustic meatus (EAM) while was recorded during pupillary light reflex task. Analysis generalized additive mixed modeling (GAMM) revealed non‐linear intensity diameter. Active increased participants who 2 approximately 4.8 mA, not higher‐intensity (up 8.1 mA). In addition, persisted subsequent blocks, mitigating decreases over course These findings suggest activates system when applied EAM, its be counteracted higher intensities.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Does Not Accelerate Fear Extinction: A Randomized, Sham‐Controlled Study DOI Open Access
Martina D’Agostini,

Lucas Vanden Bossche,

Andreas M. Burger

et al.

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 62(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been tested as a strategy to facilitate fear extinction learning based on the hypothesis that taVNS increases central noradrenergic activity. Four studies out of six found enhance especially at beginning extinction. Facilitatory effects were mainly observed in US expectancy, less fear‐potentiated startle (FPS), and not skin conductance response (SCR). Suboptimal parameters may explain reported mixed results. Also, variability selected conditioning paradigms statistical power impedes comparability between studies. This study sought further test whether accelerates indexed by FPS, SCR. Similar most previous studies, we employed differential paradigm. The left ear 79 healthy participants was stimulated with either sham (earlobe) or (cymba concha) during learning. To maximize beneficial taVNS, cymba concha administered continuously maximum level below pain threshold. Results pre‐registered frequentist exploratory Bayesian analyses indicate did accelerate any outcomes. null results commonly used does reliably optimize More research is needed if protocol determines efficacy optimizing

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Enhances Emotional Processing and Long‐Term Recognition Memory: Electrophysiological Evidence Across Two Studies DOI Creative Commons
Carlos Ventura‐Bort, Manon Giraudier, Mathias Weymar

et al.

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 62(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Recently, we found that continuous transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) facilitates the encoding and later recollection of emotionally relevant information, as indicated by differences in late positive potential (LPP), memory performance, ERP Old/New effect. Here, aimed to conceptually replicate extend these findings investigating effects different time‐dependent taVNS protocols. In Study 1, an identical paradigm our previous study was employed with interval (30‐s on/off). Participants viewed unpleasant neutral scenes on two consecutive days while receiving or sham completed a recognition test 1 week later. Replicating results, images encoded under taVNS, compared stimulation, elicited larger amplitudes earlier window LPP during encoding, well more pronounced differences. However, no performance were found. 2, followed up synchronizing cycle image presentation determine for off cycles. We could enhancing brain potentials (early differences) improved recollection‐based both images, independently cycle. Overall, results suggest increases electrophysiological correlates emotional retrieval time‐independent manner, substantiating nerve's role processing formation, opening new venues improving mnemonic processes clinical non‐clinical populations.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Improve Emotional State DOI Creative Commons
Ainara Aranberri Ruiz

Biomedicines, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 407 - 407

Published: Feb. 9, 2024

Emotional experiences are a part of our lives. The maladaptive functioning an individual's emotional field can lead to disturbances various kinds, such as anxiety and depression. Currently, there is increasing prevalence disorders that cause great human suffering high socioeconomic costs. processing has biological basis. major neuroscientific theories emotion based on functioning, all them take into account the anatomy function tenth cranial nerve: vagus nerve. nerve connects subdiaphragmatic supradiaphragmatic areas modulates basis interoceptive functioning. Auricular stimulation new innovative neuromodulation technique Several interventions have shown this neurostimulation very promising resource for treating disorders. In paper, we summarise three emotion, explain what transcutaneous auricular is, present arguments its use continued research.

Language: Английский

Citations

6
Evaluating phasic transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) with pupil dilation: the importance of stimulation intensity and sensory perception DOI Creative Commons
Mareike Ludwig,

Calida Pereira,

Marius Keute

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 17, 2024

The efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) as a non-invasive method to modulate physiological markers noradrenergic activity the Locus Coeruleus (LC), such pupil dilation, is increasingly more discussed. However, taVNS studies show high heterogeneity effects. Therefore, setup was established here test different frequencies (10 Hz and 25 Hz) intensities (3 mA 5 mA) during phasic s) with time-synchronous recording dilation in younger adults. Specifically, real higher intensity led increased which consistent invasive VNS animals. results also suggest that influence on may be stronger than frequency. there an attenuation taVNS-induced when differences perception sensations were considered. perceived intensity. extent effect induces involvement sensory process are discussed require extensive research. Additionally, it crucial strive for comparable systematic parameter testing order investigate possible effects detail.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Tonic and Event-Related Phasic Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Alters Pupil Responses in the Change-Detection Task DOI
Jingxin Chen, Yufeng Ke, Guangjian Ni

et al.

Neuromodulation Technology at the Neural Interface, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Vagus nerve stimulation as a predictive coding modulator that enhances feedforward over feedback transmission DOI Creative Commons

Shinichi Kumagai,

Tomoyo Isoguchi Shiramatsu, Kensuke Kawai

et al.

Frontiers in Neural Circuits, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 19

Published: April 14, 2025

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic intervention across various neurological and psychiatric conditions, including epilepsy, depression, stroke rehabilitation; however, its mechanisms of action on neural circuits remain incompletely understood. Here, we present novel theoretical framework based predictive coding that conceptualizes VNS effects through differential modulation feedforward feedback circuits. Based recent evidence, propose shifts the balance between processing multiple neuromodulatory systems, resulting in enhanced signal transmission. This integrates anatomical pathways, receptor distributions, physiological responses to explain influence dynamics different spatial temporal scales. may facilitate plasticity adaptive behavior acetylcholine noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which differentially modulate signaling. mechanistic understanding serves basis for interpreting cognitive outcomes clinical conditions. Our perspective provides unified circuit-specific suggests new directions investigating their mechanisms.

Language: Английский

Citations

0