Respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation (RAVANS) modulates brain response to stress in major depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Negative stress significantly impacts major depressive disorder (MDD), given the shared brain circuitry between the stress response and mood. Thus, interventions that target this circuitry will have an important impact on MDD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a novel respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation (RAVANS) technique in the modulation of brain activity and connectivity in women with MDD in response to negative stressful stimuli.

Methods

Twenty premenopausal women with recurrent MDD in an active episode were included in a cross-over experimental study that included two functional MRI visits within one week, randomized to receive exhalatory- (e-RAVANS) or inhalatory-gated (i-RAVANS) at each visit. Subjects were

SUBMITTER: Garcia RG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8429271 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature