Vagus nerve stimulation: mechanisms and factors involved in memory enhancement

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17

Published: June 29, 2023

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been recognized as a useful neuromodulation tool to target the central nervous system by electrical of peripheral nerves. Activation nucleus solitary tract (NTS) in brainstem vagal afferent fibers allows for modulation various higher order brain regions, including limbic and cerebral cortex structures. Along with neurological psychiatric indications, clinical preclinical studies suggest that VNS can improve memory. While underlying mechanisms memory involve areas, such prefrontal processes alertness arousal, here we focus on VNS-induced improvements related hippocampus, main area implicated acquisition. In addition, detail research demonstrating targeted approach modify outcomes delve into molecular associated these changes. These findings indicate greater understanding while also considering parameters, administration site, timing relation training, sex-specific factors, may allow optimal application enhance

Language: Английский

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Neuromorphic electro-stimulation based on atomically thin semiconductor for damage-free inflammation inhibition

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 13, 2024

Abstract Inflammation, caused by accumulation of inflammatory cytokines from immunocytes, is prevalent in a variety diseases. Electro-stimulation emerges as promising candidate for inhibition. Although electroacupuncture free surgical injury, it faces the challenges imprecise pathways/current spikes, and insufficiently defined mechanisms, while non-optimal pathway or spike would require high current amplitude, which makes electro-stimulation usually accompanied damage complications. Here, we propose neuromorphic based on atomically thin semiconductor floating-gate memory interdigital circuit. Direct stimulation achieved wrapping sympathetic chain with flexible electrodes are programmable to fire bionic thus minimizing nerve damage. A substantial decrease (73.5%) cytokine IL-6 occurred, also enabled better efficacy than commercial stimulator at record-low currents damage-free neurons. Additionally, using transgenic mice, anti-inflammation effect determined β2 adrenergic signaling myeloid cell lineage (monocytes/macrophages granulocytes).

Language: Английский

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Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation

Brain stimulation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 460 - 468

Published: March 1, 2024

BackgroundWorking memory is essential to a wide range of cognitive functions and activities. Transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) promising method improve working performance. However, the feasibility scalability electrical stimulation are constrained by several limitations, such as discomfort inconsistent contact.ObjectiveWe aimed develop novel practical method, vibrotactile taVNS, memory. Further, we investigated its effects on arousal, measured skin conductance pupil diameter.MethodThis study included 20 healthy participants. Behavioral response, conductance, eye tracking data were concurrently recorded while participants performed N-back tasks under three conditions: taVNS delivered cymba concha, earlobe (sham control), no (baseline control).ResultsIn 4-back tasks, which demand maximal capacity, active significantly improved performance metric compared baseline but not sham. Moreover, found that reduction rate with increasing task difficulty was smaller during sessions than in both sham conditions. Arousal, diameter, declined over course tasks. Vibrotactile rescued this arousal decline, leading levels corresponding optimal levels. diameter level higher high-cognitive-load when concha sham.ConclusionOur findings suggest modulates pathway could be potential intervention for enhancing

Language: Английский

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The impact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on anterior cingulate cortex activity in a cognitive control task

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

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) offers a non‐invasive method to enhance noradrenergic neurotransmission in the human brain, thereby increasing cognitive control. Here, we investigate if changes control induced by tVNS are mediated through locus coeruleus‐induced modifications of neural activity anterior cingulate cortex. Young healthy participants engaged simple task focusing on response inhibition and more complex that involved both working memory, inside magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The tasks were executed using randomized within‐subject design, with undergoing auricular sham separate sessions. significantly changed performance reflected greater propensity respond. Furthermore, observed significant increase cortex during under tVNS. Functional connectivity analyses revealed positive coupling between coeruleus cortex, however, this was not modulated findings suggest can modulate While these effects an impact key region conflict monitoring control, behavioral indicative shift bias rather than enhanced

Language: Английский

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Mechanism and Applications of Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Current Issues in Molecular Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 47(2), P. 122 - 122

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Over the past three decades, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as a promising rehabilitation therapy for diverse range of conditions, demonstrating substantial clinical potential. This review summarizes in vivo biological mechanisms activated by VNS and their corresponding applications. Furthermore, it outlines selection parameters equipment implementation. exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, modulates neurotransmitter release, enhances neural plasticity, inhibits apoptosis autophagy, maintains blood-brain barrier integrity, promotes angiogenesis. Clinically, been utilized treatment epilepsy, depression, headache, stroke, obesity. Its potential applications extend to management cardiovascular cerebrovascular diseases various brain disorders. However, further experiments are required definitively establish efficacy VNS's mechanisms. Additionally, there is need explore identify optimal different diseases.

Language: Английский

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Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Cerebral Stroke: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Frontiers in Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: Feb. 16, 2022

Stroke poses a serious threat to human health and burdens both society the healthcare system. Standard rehabilitative therapies may not be effective in improving functions after stroke, so alternative strategies are needed. The FDA has approved vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for treatment of epilepsy, migraines, depression. Recent studies have demonstrated that VNS can facilitate benefits rehabilitation interventions. coupled with upper limb enhances recovery function patients chronic stroke. However, its invasive nature limits clinical application. Researchers developed non-invasive method stimulate (non-invasive stimulation, nVNS). It been suggested nVNS could promising muscle stroke patients. In this article, we review current researches preclinical as well potential applications We summarize parameters, advantages, mechanisms, adverse effects applications, future challenges directions cerebral treatment. These indicate efficacy reducing volume attenuating neurological deficits ischemic models. While more basic research is required fully understand mechanisms efficacy, especially Phase III trials large number patients, these data suggest applied easily only possible secondary prophylactic but also adjunctive acute near future.

Language: Английский

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Vagus nerve stimulation increases stomach-brain coupling via a vagal afferent pathway

Brain stimulation, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 15(5), P. 1279 - 1289

Published: Sept. 1, 2022

BackgroundMaintaining energy homeostasis is vital and supported by vagal signaling between digestive organs the brain. Previous research has established a gastric network in brain that phase synchronized with rhythm of stomach, but tools to perturb its function were lacking.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether stomach-brain coupling can be acutely increased non-invasively stimulating afferent projections brain.MethodsUsing single-blind randomized crossover design, we investigated effect acute right-sided transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) versus sham on coupling.ResultsIn line preclinical research, taVNS nucleus solitary tract (NTS) midbrain while boosting across Crucially, cortex, taVNS-induced changes occurred primarily transmodal regions associated hunger ratings as indicators subjective metabolic state.ConclusionstaVNS increases via an NTS-midbrain pathway signals gut-induced reward, indicating communication body effectively modulated vago-vagal signaling. Such insights may help us better understand role afferents orchestrating recruitment which could pave way for novel neuromodulatory treatments.

Language: Английский

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Declining locus coeruleus–dopaminergic and noradrenergic modulation of long-term memory in aging and Alzheimer’s disease

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 153, P. 105358 - 105358

Published: Aug. 17, 2023

Language: Английский

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Short-term transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation increases pupil size but does not affect EEG alpha power: A replication of Sharon et al. (2021, Journal of Neuroscience)

Brain stimulation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(4), P. 1001 - 1008

Published: June 20, 2023

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been tested as a potential treatment for pharmaco-resistant epilepsy and depression. Its clinical efficacy is thought to depend on taVNS-induced activation of the locus coeruleus other neuromodulator systems. However, unlike invasive VNS in rodents, there little evidence an effect taVNS noradrenergic activity.We attempted replicate recently published findings by Sharon et al. (2021), showing that short bursts transiently increased pupil size decreased EEG alpha power, two correlates central activity.Following original study, we used single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized cross-over design. Human volunteers (n = 29) received short-term (3.4 s) at maximum level below pain threshold, while collected resting-state pupil-size data. To analyze data, scripts provided colleagues.Consistent with dilation was significantly larger during than sham (p .009; Bayes factor supporting difference 7.45). failed power .37); data were four times more likely under null hypothesis (BF10 0.28).Our support effectiveness inducing transient dilation, correlate phasic activity. recent finding (2021) attenuates Overall, this study highlights need continued research neural mechanisms underlying its option conditions. It also direct replications influential studies.

Language: Английский

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Mechanisms for survival: vagal control of goal-directed behavior

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 28(3), P. 237 - 251

Published: Nov. 29, 2023

Language: Английский

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