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Carroll AM, Riley JR, Borland MS, Danaphongse TT, Hays SA, Kilgard MP, Engineer CT. Bursts of vagus nerve stimulation paired with auditory rehabilitation fail to improve speech sound perception in rats with hearing loss. iScience 2024; 27:109527. [PMID: 38585658 PMCID: PMC10995867 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss can lead to long-lasting effects on the central nervous system, and current therapies, such as auditory training and rehabilitation, show mixed success in improving perception and speech comprehension. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an adjunctive therapy that can be paired with rehabilitation to facilitate behavioral recovery after neural injury. However, VNS for auditory recovery has not been tested after severe hearing loss or significant damage to peripheral receptors. This study investigated the utility of pairing VNS with passive or active auditory rehabilitation in a rat model of noise-induced hearing loss. Although auditory rehabilitation helped rats improve their frequency discrimination, learn novel speech discrimination tasks, and achieve speech-in-noise performance similar to normal hearing controls, VNS did not enhance recovery of speech sound perception. These results highlight the limitations of VNS as an adjunctive therapy for hearing loss rehabilitation and suggest that optimal benefits from neuromodulation may require restored peripheral signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan M. Carroll
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Jonathan R. Riley
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Michael S. Borland
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Tanya T. Danaphongse
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Seth A. Hays
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Michael P. Kilgard
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Crystal T. Engineer
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
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Raj-Koziak D, Gos E, Kutyba J, Ganc M, Jedrzejczak WW, Skarzynski PH, Skarzynski H. Effectiveness of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus: an interventional prospective controlled study. Int J Audiol 2024; 63:250-259. [PMID: 36799648 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2177894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this interventional non-randomised prospective controlled study was to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in human subjects with tinnitus. DESIGN The ParasymTM tVNS device was paired with an auditory stimulation. Treatment and observations were conducted over 12 weeks. Audiological evaluation was performed. Responses from a set of questionnaires and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) before and after treatment were collected. Voice measurements were done to assess possible side-effects of tVNS. STUDY SAMPLE The study involved 29 adults who had chronic tinnitus (15 patients who underwent tVNS paired with sounds and a control group of 14 patients who did not). RESULTS In general, subjective and objective measurements of tinnitus showed no improvement in the study group compared to the controls, although certain parameters as gauged by the questionnaires did statistically improve. The loudness and frequency of tinnitus remained the same in both groups. For the qEEG, activity in the theta band increased significantly in the study group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS The tVNS was not effective in reducing tinnitus symptoms in our study group. However, changes in the theta band suggest there might be cortical effects that might, with sustained treatment, lead to improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Raj-Koziak
- Tinnitus Department, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Gos
- Department of Teleaudiology and Screening, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Kutyba
- Department of Teleaudiology and Screening, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Ganc
- Department of Experimental Audiology, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
| | - W Wiktor Jedrzejczak
- Department of Experimental Audiology, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr H Skarzynski
- Department of Teleaudiology and Screening, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
- Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Institute of Sensory Organs, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Henryk Skarzynski
- Department of Otorhinolaryngosurgery, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland
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Jigo M, Carmel JB, Wang Q, Rodenkirch C. Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improves sensory performance in humans: a randomized controlled crossover pilot study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3975. [PMID: 38368486 PMCID: PMC10874458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54026-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurate senses depend on high-fidelity encoding by sensory receptors and error-free processing in the brain. Progress has been made towards restoring damaged sensory receptors. However, methods for on-demand treatment of impaired central sensory processing are scarce. Prior invasive studies demonstrated that continuous vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in rodents can activate the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system to rapidly improve central sensory processing. Here, we investigated whether transcutaneous VNS improves sensory performance in humans. We conducted three sham-controlled experiments, each with 12 neurotypical adults, that measured the effects of transcutaneous VNS on metrics of auditory and visual performance, and heart rate variability (HRV). Continuous stimulation was delivered to cervical (tcVNS) or auricular (taVNS) branches of the vagus nerve while participants performed psychophysics tasks or passively viewed a display. Relative to sham stimulation, tcVNS improved auditory performance by 37% (p = 0.00052) and visual performance by 23% (p = 0.038). Participants with lower performance during sham conditions experienced larger tcVNS-evoked improvements (p = 0.0040). Lastly, tcVNS increased HRV during passive viewing, corroborating vagal engagement. No evidence for an effect of taVNS was observed. These findings validate the effectiveness of tcVNS in humans and position it as a method for on-demand interventions of impairments associated with central sensory processing dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason B Carmel
- Sharper Sense, Inc., New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology and Orthopedics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Sharper Sense, Inc., New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles Rodenkirch
- Sharper Sense, Inc., New York, NY, USA.
- The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, New York, NY, USA.
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Tamaoki Y, Pasapula V, Chandler C, Borland MS, Olajubutu OI, Tharakan LS, Engineer CT. Degraded inferior colliculus responses to complex sounds in prenatally exposed VPA rats. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:2. [PMID: 38166599 PMCID: PMC10759431 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09514-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often exhibit altered sensory processing and deficits in language development. Prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) increases the risk for ASD and impairs both receptive and expressive language. Like individuals with ASD, rodents prenatally exposed to VPA exhibit degraded auditory cortical processing and abnormal neural activity to sounds. Disrupted neuronal morphology has been documented in earlier processing areas of the auditory pathway in VPA-exposed rodents, but there are no studies documenting early auditory pathway physiology. Therefore, the objective of this study is to characterize inferior colliculus (IC) responses to different sounds in rats prenatally exposed to VPA compared to saline-exposed rats. METHODS In vivo extracellular multiunit recordings from the inferior colliculus were collected in response to tones, speech sounds, and noise burst trains. RESULTS Our results indicate that the overall response to speech sounds was degraded in VPA-exposed rats compared to saline-exposed controls, but responses to tones and noise burst trains were unaltered. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with observations in individuals with autism that neural responses to complex sounds, like speech, are often altered, and lays the foundation for future studies of potential therapeutics to improve auditory processing in the VPA rat model of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Tamaoki
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
| | - Varun Pasapula
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Collin Chandler
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Michael S Borland
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Olayinka I Olajubutu
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Liza S Tharakan
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Crystal T Engineer
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road BSB11, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
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Jigo M, Carmel JB, Wang Q, Rodenkirch C. Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improves sensory performance in humans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.08.552508. [PMID: 37609169 PMCID: PMC10441305 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.08.552508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Accurate senses depend on high-fidelity encoding by sensory receptors and error-free processing in the brain. Progress has been made towards restoring damaged sensory receptors. However, methods for on-demand treatment of impaired central sensory processing are scarce. Prior invasive studies demonstrated that continuous vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in rodents can activate the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system to rapidly improve central sensory processing. Here, we investigated whether transcutaneous VNS improves sensory performance in humans. We conducted three sham-controlled experiments, each with 12 neurotypical adults, that measured the effects of transcutaneous VNS on metrics of auditory and visual performance, and heart rate variability (HRV). Continuous stimulation was delivered to cervical (tcVNS) or auricular (taVNS) branches of the vagus nerve while participants performed psychophysics tasks or passively viewed a display. Relative to sham stimulation, tcVNS improved auditory performance by 37% (p=0.00052) and visual performance by 23% (p=0.038). Participants with lower performance during sham conditions experienced larger tcVNS-evoked improvements (p=0.0040). Lastly, tcVNS increased HRV during passive viewing, corroborating vagal engagement. No evidence for an effect of taVNS was observed. These findings validate the effectiveness of tcVNS in humans and position it as a method for on-demand interventions of impairments associated with central sensory processing dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason B. Carmel
- Sharper Sense, Inc., New York, NY
- Department of Neurology and Orthopedics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Qi Wang
- Sharper Sense, Inc., New York, NY
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Charles Rodenkirch
- Sharper Sense, Inc., New York, NY
- The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, New York, NY
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Borland MS, Buell EP, Riley JR, Carroll AM, Moreno NA, Sharma P, Grasse KM, Buell JM, Kilgard MP, Engineer CT. Precise sound characteristics drive plasticity in the primary auditory cortex with VNS-sound pairing. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1248936. [PMID: 37732302 PMCID: PMC10508341 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1248936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Repeatedly pairing a tone with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) alters frequency tuning across the auditory pathway. Pairing VNS with speech sounds selectively enhances the primary auditory cortex response to the paired sounds. It is not yet known how altering the speech sounds paired with VNS alters responses. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the sounds that are presented and paired with VNS will influence the neural plasticity observed following VNS-sound pairing. Methods To explore the relationship between acoustic experience and neural plasticity, responses were recorded from primary auditory cortex (A1) after VNS was repeatedly paired with the speech sounds 'rad' and 'lad' or paired with only the speech sound 'rad' while 'lad' was an unpaired background sound. Results Pairing both sounds with VNS increased the response strength and neural discriminability of the paired sounds in the primary auditory cortex. Surprisingly, pairing only 'rad' with VNS did not alter A1 responses. Discussion These results suggest that the specific acoustic contrasts associated with VNS can powerfully shape neural activity in the auditory pathway. Methods to promote plasticity in the central auditory system represent a new therapeutic avenue to treat auditory processing disorders. Understanding how different sound contrasts and neural activity patterns shape plasticity could have important clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Borland
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Elizabeth P. Buell
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Jonathan R. Riley
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Alan M. Carroll
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Nicole A. Moreno
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Pryanka Sharma
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Katelyn M. Grasse
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - John M. Buell
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Michael P. Kilgard
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Crystal T. Engineer
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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Hays SA, Rennaker RL, Kilgard MP. How to fail with paired VNS therapy. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1252-1258. [PMID: 37595833 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has gained enormous traction as a promising bioelectronic therapy. In particular, the delivery of VNS paired with training to promote neural changes has demonstrated clinical success for stroke recovery and found far-reaching application in other domains, from autism to psychiatric disorders to normal learning. The success of paired VNS has been extensively documented. Here, we consider a more unusual question: why does VNS have such broad utility, and perhaps more importantly, when does VNS not work? We present a discussion of the concepts that underlie VNS therapy and an anthology of studies that describe conditions in which these concepts are violated and VNS fails. We focus specifically on the mechanisms engaged by implanted VNS, and how the parameters of stimulation, stimulation method, pharmacological manipulations, accompanying comorbidities, and specifics of concurrent training interact with these mechanisms to impact the efficacy of VNS therapy. As paired VNS therapy is increasing translated to clinical implementation, a clear understanding of the conditions in which it does, and critically, does not work is fundamental to the success of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth A Hays
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA; School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA; School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
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Rufener KS, Wienke C, Salanje A, Haghikia A, Zaehle T. Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation paired with tones on electrophysiological markers of auditory perception. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:982-989. [PMID: 37336282 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been introduced as a non-invasive alternative to invasive vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS). While iVNS paired with tones has been highlighted as a potential effective therapy for the treatment of auditory disorders such as tinnitus, there is still scarce data available confirming the efficacy of non-invasive taVNS. Here, we assessed the effect of taVNS paired with acoustic stimuli on sensory-related electrophysiological responses. METHODS A total of 22 healthy participants were investigated with a taVNS tone-pairing paradigm using a within-subjects design. In a single session pure tones paired with either active taVNS or sham taVNS were repeatedly presented. Novel tones without electrical stimulation served as control condition. Auditory event related potentials and auditory cortex oscillations were compared before and after the tone pairing procedure between stimulation conditions. RESULTS From pre to post pairing, we observed a decrease in the N1 amplitude and in theta power to tones paired with sham taVNS while these electrophysiological measures remained stable for tones paired with active taVNS a pattern mirroring auditory sensory processing of novel, unpaired control tones. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the efficacy of a short-term application of non-invasive taVNS to modulate auditory processing in healthy individuals and, thereby, have potential implications for interventions in auditory processing deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina S Rufener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Christian Wienke
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Alena Salanje
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Aiden Haghikia
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tino Zaehle
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany
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Rodenkirch C, Carmel JB, Wang Q. Rapid Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Sensory Processing Through Activation of Neuromodulatory Systems. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:922424. [PMID: 35864985 PMCID: PMC9294458 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.922424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
After sensory information is encoded into neural signals at the periphery, it is processed through multiple brain regions before perception occurs (i.e., sensory processing). Recent work has begun to tease apart how neuromodulatory systems influence sensory processing. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is well-known as an effective and safe method of activating neuromodulatory systems. There is a growing body of studies confirming VNS has immediate effects on sensory processing across multiple sensory modalities. These immediate effects of VNS on sensory processing are distinct from the more well-documented method of inducing lasting neuroplastic changes to the sensory pathways through repeatedly delivering a brief VNS burst paired with a sensory stimulus. Immediate effects occur upon VNS onset, often disappear upon VNS offset, and the modulation is present for all sensory stimuli. Conversely, the neuroplastic effect of pairing sub-second bursts of VNS with a sensory stimulus alters sensory processing only after multiple pairing sessions, this alteration remains after cessation of pairing sessions, and the alteration selectively affects the response properties of neurons encoding the specific paired sensory stimulus. Here, we call attention to the immediate effects VNS has on sensory processing. This review discusses existing studies on this topic, provides an overview of the underlying neuromodulatory systems that likely play a role, and briefly explores the potential translational applications of using VNS to rapidly regulate sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Rodenkirch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, Cornell Tech, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Charles Rodenkirch,
| | - Jason B. Carmel
- Department of Neurology and Orthopedics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Qi Wang,
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Yakunina N, Nam EC. Direct and Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Tinnitus: A Scoping Review. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:680590. [PMID: 34122002 PMCID: PMC8193498 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.680590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent animal research has shown that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with sound stimuli can induce neural plasticity in the auditory cortex in a controlled manner. VNS paired with tones excluding the tinnitus frequency eliminated physiological and behavioral characteristics of tinnitus in noise-exposed rats. Several clinical trials followed and explored the effectiveness of VNS paired with sound stimuli for alleviating tinnitus in human subjects. Transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) has received increasing attention as a non-invasive alternative approach to tinnitus treatment. Several studies have also explored tVNS alone (not paired with sound stimuli) as a potential therapy for tinnitus. In this review, we discuss existing knowledge about direct and tVNS in terms of applicability, safety, and effectiveness in diminishing tinnitus symptoms in human subjects. This review includes all existing clinical and neuroimaging studies of tVNS alone or paired with acoustic stimulation in tinnitus patients and outlines the present limitations that must be overcome to maximize the potential of (t)VNS as a therapy for tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Yakunina
- Institute of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Nam
- Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
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11
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Possible Mechanisms for the Effects of Sound Vibration on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9050597. [PMID: 34069792 PMCID: PMC8157227 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9050597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a narrative review of research literature to “map the landscape” of the mechanisms of the effect of sound vibration on humans including the physiological, neurological, and biochemical. It begins by narrowing music to sound and sound to vibration. The focus is on low frequency sound (up to 250 Hz) including infrasound (1–16 Hz). Types of application are described and include whole body vibration, vibroacoustics, and focal applications of vibration. Literature on mechanisms of response to vibration is categorized into hemodynamic, neurological, and musculoskeletal. Basic mechanisms of hemodynamic effects including stimulation of endothelial cells and vibropercussion; of neurological effects including protein kinases activation, nerve stimulation with a specific look at vibratory analgesia, and oscillatory coherence; of musculoskeletal effects including muscle stretch reflex, bone cell progenitor fate, vibration effects on bone ossification and resorption, and anabolic effects on spine and intervertebral discs. In every category research on clinical applications are described. The conclusion points to the complexity of the field of vibrational medicine and calls for specific comparative research on type of vibration delivery, amount of body or surface being stimulated, effect of specific frequencies and intensities to specific mechanisms, and to greater interdisciplinary cooperation and focus.
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