The effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cholinergic neural networks in humans: A neurophysiological study

IF 3.7 3区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Clinical Neurophysiology Pub Date : 2024-11-26 DOI:10.1016/j.clinph.2024.11.012

Fioravante Capone, Francesco Motolese, Alessandro Cruciani, Mariagrazia Rossi, Gabriella Musumeci, Davide Norata, Massimo Marano, Fabio Pilato, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

The mechanisms of actions of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) are still unclear, however the activity of the cholinergic system seems to be critical for the induction of VNS-mediated plasticity. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a well-suited, non-invasive tool to investigate cortical microcircuits involving different neurotransmitters. Herein, we evaluated the effect of taVNS on short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), a TMS paradigm specifically measuring cholinergic neurotransmission.

Methods

Fifteen healthy subjects participated in this randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study. Each subject underwent two different sessions of 1-hour exposure to taVNS (real and sham) separated by a minimum of 48 h. Real taVNS was administered at left external acoustic meatus, while sham stimulation was performed at left ear lobe. We evaluated SAI bilaterally over the motor cortex before and after exposure to taVNS.

Results

No side effects were reported by any of the participants.

Statistical analysis did not show any significant effect of taVNS on SAI.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that cholinergic circuits explored by SAI are different from circuits engaged by taVNS.

Significance

Since the influence of VNS on cholinergic neurotransmission has been exhaustively demonstrated in animal models, further studies are mandatory to understand the actual impact of VNS on cholinergic circuits in humans.

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来源期刊

Clinical Neurophysiology 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

8.70

自引率

6.40%

发文量

932

审稿时长

59 days

期刊介绍： As of January 1999, The journal Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, and its two sections Electromyography and Motor Control and Evoked Potentials have amalgamated to become this journal - Clinical Neurophysiology. Clinical Neurophysiology is the official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, the Brazilian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, the Czech Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, the Italian Clinical Neurophysiology Society and the International Society of Intraoperative Neurophysiology.The journal is dedicated to fostering research and disseminating information on all aspects of both normal and abnormal functioning of the nervous system. The key aim of the publication is to disseminate scholarly reports on the pathophysiology underlying diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system of human patients. Clinical trials that use neurophysiological measures to document change are encouraged, as are manuscripts reporting data on integrated neuroimaging of central nervous function including, but not limited to, functional MRI, MEG, EEG, PET and other neuroimaging modalities.