Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation modifies cortical excitability in middle-aged and older adults.

ABSTRACT: There is a growing interest in the clinical application of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). However, its effect on cortical excitability, and whether this is modulated by stimulation duration, remains unclear. We evaluated whether taVNS can modify excitability in the primary motor cortex (M1) in middle-aged and older adults and whether the stimulation duration moderates this effect. In addition, we evaluated the blinding efficacy of a commonly reported sham method. In a double-blinded randomized cross-over sham-controlled study, 23 healthy adults (mean age 59.91 ± 6.87 years) received three conditions: active taVNS for 30 and 60 min and sham for 30 min. Single and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered over the right M1 to evaluate motor-evoke

SUBMITTER: Gerges ANH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11780349 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature