Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) modulates synaptic plasticity in the rat infralimbic cortex via Trk-B receptor activation to reduce drug-seeking

This study shows that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances extinction learning and reduces drug-seeking in rats by increasing BDNF and modulating TrkB receptors in the infralimbic cortex.

300 Hz transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) impacts pupil size nonlinearly as a function of intensity

This study investigates how pupil size changes with different intensities of 300 Hz taVNS, finding a nonlinear relationship where lower intensities increase pupil size but higher intensities do not.

Evidence for vagal sensory neural involvement in influenza pathogenesis and disease

This study investigates the role of pulmonary vagal sensory neurons in influenza pathogenesis, finding that their ablation or inhibition worsens clinical outcomes but reduces lung pathology.

Tonic and phasic transcutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation both evoke rapid and transient pupil dilation

This study compares phasic and tonic transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) effects on pupil dilation, finding both induce rapid but transient responses, suggesting they primarily modulate phasic noradrenergic activity.

Vagus nerve stimulation rescues persistent pain following orthopedic surgery in adult mice.

This study shows that vagus nerve stimulation prevents persistent postoperative pain and improves recovery in mice after orthopedic surgery.

Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improves sensory performance in humans

This study shows that transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improves auditory and visual performance in humans and increases heart rate variability.

Dissecting the contribution of vagal subcircuits in sepsis-induced brain dysfunctions.

This study investigates the role of vagal subcircuits in sepsis-induced brain dysfunction using rodent models and manipulates vagus nerve activity to assess its impact on inflammation and behaviour.

Anatomical and functional organization of cardiac fibers in the porcine cervical vagus nerve allows spatially selective efferent neuromodulation

This paper demonstrates spatially-selective vagus nerve stimulation (sVNS) can target cardiac efferent fibers to decrease heart rate without stimulating afferent-related reflexes, improving precision and efficacy of neuromodulation for cardiac disease.

In vivo Tracing of the Ascending Vagal Projections to the Brain with Manganese Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This study uses MEMRI to trace vagal afferent projections to the brainstem and assess their functional dependence on VNS in rats.

Online Bayesian Optimization of Nerve Stimulation

This paper develops a Bayesian optimization framework for real-time neural stimulation parameter optimization, achieving personalized dosing with fewer stimulations and uncertainty-aware safety.

Human vagus nerve fascicular anatomy: a microCT segmentation and histological study

This study uses microCT and histology to analyze the fascicular organization of human vagus nerves, revealing differences between left and right nerves and potential for targeted neuromodulation.

Vagus nerve stimulation using an endovascular electrode array

This study demonstrates the feasibility of endovascular vagus nerve stimulation using electrodes in the internal jugular vein, showing that electrode positioning is critical for effective VN activation.

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation decreases vagally mediated heart rate variability

This study investigates the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on heart rate and variability, finding that it decreases HRV without altering HR.

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation and the motivation to work for rewards: a replication

This study replicates a previous finding that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) increases reward-seeking behavior, but fails to confirm the effect, suggesting it may not reliably boost motivation to work for rewards.

Short-term transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation increases pupil size but does not affect EEG alpha power: a replication

This study replicates findings from Sharon et al. (2021) on taVNS effects, confirming pupil dilation but not EEG alpha power changes.

Fascicles Split or Merge Every ~560 Microns Within the Human Cervical Vagus Nerve

The paper quantifies fascicular splitting and merging in human cervical vagus nerves, finding events occur every ~560 microns and may explain clinical response variability.

Rapidly Inferring Personalized Neurostimulation Parameters with Meta-Learning: A Case Study of Individualized Fiber Recruitment in Vagus Nerve Stimulation

This paper introduces a meta-learning framework to personalize neurostimulation parameters with fewer data points, demonstrating its effectiveness in vagus nerve stimulation.

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

This study shows that vagus nerve stimulation increases stomach-brain coupling in specific brain regions and correlates with changes in hunger ratings.

Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in a hungry state decreases heart rate variability and wanting of a palatable drink

This study compares the effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) at different ear locations during hungry and full states on heart rate variability and metabolic responses.

Voltammetry in the spleen assesses real-time anti-inflammatory norepinephrine release elicited by autonomic neurostimulation

This study uses voltammetry in the spleen to measure real-time norepinephrine release during autonomic nerve stimulation and links it to anti-inflammatory effects.

Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation acutely modulates brain connectivity in mice

This study shows that auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) improves memory persistence in mice when applied immediately after training but not 3 hours later, and induces reorganization of c-Fos-based brain connectivity.

Organ- and function-specific anatomical organization of the vagus nerve supports fascicular vagus nerve stimulation

This study shows that vagus nerve fascicles are organized by function and organ innervation, enabling targeted stimulation with reduced side effects.

Organotopic organization of the cervical vagus nerve

The paper identifies localized fascicles in the porcine cervical vagus nerve that correspond to specific organ functions, supporting the concept of organotopy and enabling targeted neuromodulation.

Prefrontally Modulated Vagal Tone Inhibits Inflammatory Responses to Prevent Telomere Damage in Healthy Participants

This study examines the relationship between prefrontally modulated vagal tone, inflammation, and leukocyte telomere length, finding that the NIM index better predicts telomere length than vagal tone alone.

Effects of sub-threshold transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cerebral blood flow

This study investigates whether high-frequency sub-threshold taVNS affects cerebral blood flow using arterial spin labeling MRI in healthy subjects.

In vivo visualization of pig vagus nerve 'vagotopy' using ultrasound

This paper demonstrates the use of intraoperative ultrasound to visualize pig vagus nerve fascicular organization (vagotopy) and improve cuff placement for vagus nerve stimulation.

Acute vagus nerve stimulation does not affect liking or wanting ratings of food in healthy participants

Brain signaling dynamics after vagus nerve stimulation

This study investigates the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on brain signaling using fMRI, finding increased NTS activation but no changes in dynamic functional connectivity or gastric motility.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation increases eye-gaze on salient facial features and oxytocin release

Vagus nerve stimulation accelerates motor learning through cholinergic modulation

This study shows that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances motor learning in mice when paired with successful movement, but impairs learning when random, suggesting it reinforces outcome cues through cholinergic signaling.