TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of short and prolonged transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on heart rate variability in healthy subjects
AU - De Couck, M.
AU - Cserjesi, R.
AU - Caers, R.
AU - Zijlstra, W. P.
AU - Widjaja, D.
AU - Wolf, N.
AU - Luminet, O.
AU - Ellrich, Jens
AU - Gidron, Y.
N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The vagus nerve is strategically located in the body, and has multiple homeostatic and health-promoting effects. Low vagal activity predicts onset and progression of diseases. These are the reasons to activate this nerve. This study examined the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) on a main index of vagal activity, namely heart rate variability (HRV). In Study 1, we compared short (10min) left versus right ear t-VNS versus sham (no stimulation) in a within-subjects experimental design. Results revealed significant increases in only one HRV parameter (standard deviation of the RR intervals (SDNN)) following right-ear t-VNS. Study 2 examined the prolonged effects of t-VNS (1h) in the right ear. Compared to baseline, right-t-VNS significantly increased the LF and LF/HF components of HRV, and SDNN in women, but not in men. These results show limited effects of t-VNS on HRV, and are discussed in light of neuroanatomical and statistical considerations and future directions are proposed.
AB - The vagus nerve is strategically located in the body, and has multiple homeostatic and health-promoting effects. Low vagal activity predicts onset and progression of diseases. These are the reasons to activate this nerve. This study examined the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) on a main index of vagal activity, namely heart rate variability (HRV). In Study 1, we compared short (10min) left versus right ear t-VNS versus sham (no stimulation) in a within-subjects experimental design. Results revealed significant increases in only one HRV parameter (standard deviation of the RR intervals (SDNN)) following right-ear t-VNS. Study 2 examined the prolonged effects of t-VNS (1h) in the right ear. Compared to baseline, right-t-VNS significantly increased the LF and LF/HF components of HRV, and SDNN in women, but not in men. These results show limited effects of t-VNS on HRV, and are discussed in light of neuroanatomical and statistical considerations and future directions are proposed.
U2 - 10.1016/j.autneu.2016.11.003
DO - 10.1016/j.autneu.2016.11.003
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28017263
SN - 1566-0702
VL - 203
SP - 88
EP - 96
JO - Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical
JF - Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical
ER -