Non-Invasive Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Decreases Heart Rate Variability Independent of Caloric Load.

ABSTRACT: The vagus nerve is crucial in regulating physiological functions, including the cardiovascular system. While heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV) may provide non-invasive proxies of cardiac vagal activity, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has yielded mixed effects, with limited research on right branch stimulation. In a randomized crossover study with 36 healthy participants, we investigated taVNS effects on HR and HRV indexed by SDRR, RMSSD, HF-HRV, and LF/HF ratio. To assess the impact of the stimulation side (left vs. right ear) on cardiovascular indices and interaction with the physiological state, we recorded electrocardiograms in four sessions per person, covering three session phases: baseline, during stimulation (taVNS vs. sham), and post-milkshake cons

SUBMITTER: Kaduk K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11862327 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature