Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
18
Published: April 2, 2024
The
nucleus
accumbens
(NAc)
is
a
key
node
of
the
brain
reward
circuit
driving
reward-related
behavior.
Dysregulation
NAc
has
been
demonstrated
to
contribute
pathological
markers
addiction
in
substance
use
disorder
(SUD)
making
it
potential
therapeutic
target
for
stimulation.
Transcranial
focused
ultrasound
(tFUS)
an
emerging
non-invasive
stimulation
approach
that
can
modulate
deep
regions
with
high
spatial
resolution.
However,
there
currently
no
evidence
showing
how
activity
and
functional
connectivity
within
network
neuromodulated
by
tFUS
on
NAc.
Frontiers in Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
19
Published: Feb. 4, 2025
Disorders
of
consciousness
(DoC)
resulting
from
severe
brain
injury
present
substantial
challenges
in
rehabilitation
due
to
disruptions
network
connectivity,
particularly
within
the
frontal-parietal
critical
for
awareness.
Transcutaneous
auricular
vagus
nerve
stimulation
(taVNS)
has
emerged
as
a
promising
non-invasive
intervention;
however,
precise
mechanisms
through
which
it
influences
cortical
function
DoC
patients
remain
unclear.
This
study
describes
effects
taVNS
on
fronto-parietal
connectivity
and
arousal
77-year-old
female
patient
with
unresponsive
wakefulness
syndrome
(UWS).
The
received
bilateral
1
h
daily
over
3
months,
functional
(FC)
frontoparietal
assessed
using
near-infrared
spectroscopy
(fNIRS)
behavioral
responsiveness
evaluated
Coma
Recovery
Scale-Revised
(CRS-R).
After
intervention,
mean
FC
was
enhanced
0.06
(SD
=
0.31)
0.33
0.28)
network.
were
subdivided
into
12
regions
interest
(ROIs)
determined
that
between
left
dorsolateral
prefrontal
cortex
(DLPFC)
ROIs
±
0.41
before
intervention
0.55
0.24
after
intervention.
Behavioral
improvements
evidenced
by
an
increase
CRS-R
scores
2
14,
marking
patient's
transition
UWS
minimally
conscious
state
plus
(MCS+).
Additionally,
associated
auditory
sensory
processing
showed
increased
engagement,
supporting
positive
impact
responsiveness.
suggests
its
value
adjunctive
therapy
patients.
Further
studies
are
necessary
confirm
these
wider
population
refine
strategy
clinical
application
taVNS.
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 3, 2025
Abstract
Objective
Vagus
nerve
stimulation
(VNS)
is
an
established
therapy
for
drug‐resistant
epilepsy
(DRE)
and
indicated
implantation
on
the
left
vagus
nerve‐only.
In
rare
cases
right‐sided
VNS
may
be
only
option.
With
seven
published
in
literature,
data
safety
effectiveness
of
very
limited.
Methods
An
anonymous
38‐item
questionnaire
was
sent
to
expert
surgeons
implanting
DRE.
The
questions
covered
demographics
clinical
characteristics,
reason
both
neurological
surgical
outcomes
VNS.
Results
survey
captured
38
(18
females,
mean
age
at
surgery
28.0
±
16.3
years).
Right‐sided
performed
because
lead
deficiency
(
n
=
20),
anatomical
constraints
8),
infection
a
left‐sided
site
9),
presence
ventricular
shunt
1).
Thirty‐two
patients
(84%)
had
preoperative
cardiac
assessment.
Three
presented
postoperative
side‐effects.
stopped
last
follow‐up
three
patients:
due
deep
1),
dyspnea
sleep
apnea
syndrome
Twenty‐one
(55%)
were
responders
reduction
seizure
frequency
under
56.2
18.8%.
Focusing
between
VNS:
20
experienced
similar
effectiveness,
1
lesser
2
greater
with
Interpretation
This
multicenter
case
series
significantly
augments
available
literature
suggests
comparable
but
potentially
lower
tolerability.
Further
studies
are
warranted
better
evaluate
efficacy
Brain Sciences,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(4), P. 346 - 346
Published: March 27, 2025
Cerebrovascular
accident
(CVA)
or
stroke
is
a
devastating
neurological
condition
with
dismal
prognosis
associated
recurrent
episodes
that
further
damage
the
neuronal
networks,
thus
disabling
plasticity.
Vagus
nerve
stimulation
(VNS)
has
been
used
in
clinical
practice
to
treat
epilepsy
for
several
decades
and
well
accepted
as
safe
procedure
devoid
of
serious
adverse
events.
Bailey
Bremer
demonstrated
VNS
capabilities
stimulate
pathways
enhance
recovery
damaged
cerebral
function.
Further
studies
have
strengthened
these
observations,
while
technology
improved
tolerability
implants,
resulting
applications
epilepsy.
Several
animal
models
on
neural
plasticity
our
understanding
its
ability
provide
neuromodulation
improve
patients.
The
closed-loop
vagus
individualized
parameters
combined
physical
therapy
appears
be
an
attractive
option
today.
also
being
tested
noninvasive
trans-cutaneous
modality
patient
acceptance
tolerability.
However,
implantation
yielding
desirable
outcomes
more
reliable
treatment
rehabilitation
trials.
Frontiers in Neurology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16
Published: April 4, 2025
Background
Stroke
is
a
major
global
health
concern,
imposing
significant
medical
and
social
burdens.
Vagus
nerve
stimulation
(VNS),
an
emerging
neuromodulation
technology,
has
shown
potential
in
the
treatment
of
stroke.
This
bibliometric
analysis
aims
to
explore
knowledge
structure
research
trends
field
VNS
for
stroke
from
2004
2024.
Methods
Publications
were
retrieved
Web
Science
Core
Collection.
CiteSpace
VOSviewer
used
conduct
analyses,
including
author
productivity,
institutional
contributions,
themes
etc.
Results
A
total
191
eligible
publications
analysed.
Kilgard,
M.
P.,
Hays,
S.
A.
most
prolific
authors,
each
contributing
26
publications.
The
USA
(96
publications),
China
(69
Scotland
(17
publications)
countries.
University
Texas
at
Dallas
(33
was
institution,
followed
by
Chongqing
Medical
(19
Glasgow
(15
publications).
Future
expected
focus
on:
(1)
neurophysiological
mechanisms
recovery;
(2)
synergistic
effects
with
other
rehabilitation
therapies;
(3)
comparative
efficacy
non-invasive
transauricular
versus
invasive
VNS;
(4)
safety
effectiveness
post-stroke
functional
impairments
beyond
motor
rehabilitation;
(5)
optimisation
parameters
treatment.
Conclusion
experienced
steady
growth
over
past
two
decades.
provides
valuable
insights
guide
future
research,
clinical
applications,
policy
developments.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
18
Published: Feb. 29, 2024
Balance
and
mobility
impairments
are
prevalent
post-stroke
a
large
number
of
survivors
require
walking
assistance
at
6
months
which
diminishes
their
overall
quality
life.
Personalized
interventions
for
gait
balance
rehabilitation
crucial.
Recent
evidence
indicates
that
stroke
lesions
in
primary
motor
pathways,
such
as
corticoreticular
pathways
(CRP)
corticospinal
tract
(CST),
may
lead
to
reliance
on
alternate
compensation,
but
the
current
lacks
comprehensive
knowledge
about
underlying
neural
mechanisms.
In
this
study,
we
investigate
functional
connectivity
(FC)
changes
within
network
derived
from
an
individualized
cortical
parcellation
approach
33
participants
with
chronic
compared
17
healthy
controls.
The
correlations
between
altered
FC
deficits
(i.e.,
speed
balance)
were
then
estimated
population
understand
compensation
mechanism
function
post-stroke.
Our
results
demonstrated
significant
increases
ipsilesional
medial
supplementary
area
(SMA)
premotor
Furthermore,
also
revealed
negative
correlation
SMA-premotor
self-selected
speed,
well
Functional
Gait
Assessment
(FGA)
scores.
increased
SMA
regions
could
be
compensatory
following
when
individual
can
presumably
no
longer
rely
more
precise
CST
modulation
movements
produce
pattern.
These
findings
enhance
our
understanding
connection
post-stroke,
improving
interventions.
