Short trains of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) have parameter-specific effects on heart rate.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Optimal parameters of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) are still undetermined. Given the vagus nerve's role in regulating heart rate (HR), it is important to determine safety and HR effects of various taVNS parameters. OBJECTIVE:We conducted two sequential trials to systematically test the effects of various taVNS parameters on HR. METHODS:15 healthy individuals participated in the initial two-visit, crossover exploratory trial, receiving either tragus (active) or earlobe (control) stimulation each visit. Nine stimulation blocks of varying parameters (pulse width: 100??s, 200??s, 500??s; frequency: 1?Hz, 10?Hz, 25?Hz) were administered each visit. HR was recorded and analyzed for stimulation-induced changes. Using similar methods and the two best parameters from trial 1 (500?s 10?Hz and 500?s 25?Hz), 20 healthy individuals then participated in a follow-up confirmatory study. RESULTS:Trial 1- There was no overall effect of the nine conditions on HR during stimulation. However multivariate analysis revealed two parameters that significantly decreased HR during active stimulation compared to control (500?s 10?Hz and 500?s 25?Hz; p?

SUBMITTER: Badran BW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6536129 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul - Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature