Noninvasive Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation Alters Brain Activity During Traumatic Stress in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling condition affecting a large segment of the population; however, current treatment options have limitations. New interventions that target the neurobiological alterations underlying symptoms of PTSD could be highly beneficial. Transcutaneous cervical (neck) vagal nerve stimulation (tcVNS) has the potential to represent such an intervention. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of tcVNS on neural responses to reminders of traumatic stress in PTSD.

Methods

Twenty-two participants were randomized to receive either sham (n = 11) or active (n = 11) tcVNS stimulation in conjunction with exposure to neutral and personalized traumatic stress scripts with high-resolution positron emission tomography scanning

SUBMITTER: Wittbrodt MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8578349 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov-Dec 01

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature