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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning
Published on: August 21, 2015
Vagus nerve stimulation during rehabilitative training improves functional recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage
Seth A Hays1, Navid Khodaparast2, Daniel R Hulsey2
1From the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Bioengineering (S.A.H., A.M.S., R.L.R.), Texas Biomedical Device Center (S.A.H., N.K., D.R.H., A.R., R.L.R., M.P.K.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (D.R.H., R.L.R., M.P.K.), The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson. sxh129730@utdallas.edu.
Background And Purpose:
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) delivered during rehabilitative training enhances neuroplasticity and improves recovery in models of cortical ischemic stroke. However, VNS therapy has not been applied in a model of subcortical intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We hypothesized that VNS paired with rehabilitative training after ICH would enhance recovery of forelimb motor function beyond rehabilitative training alone.
Methods:
Rats were trained to perform an automated, quantitative measure of forelimb function. Once proficient, rats received an intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase to induce ICH. Rats then underwent VNS paired with rehabilitative training (VNS+Rehab; n=14) or rehabilitative training without VNS (Rehab; n=12). Rehabilitative training began ≥9 days after ICH and continued for 6 weeks.
Results:
VNS paired with rehabilitative training significantly improved recovery of forelimb function when compared with rehabilitative training without VNS. The VNS+Rehab group displayed a 77% recovery of function, whereas the Rehab group only exhibited 29% recovery. Recovery was sustained after cessation of stimulation. Both groups performed similar amounts of trials during rehabilitative, and lesion size was not different between groups.
Conclusions:
VNS paired with rehabilitative training confers significantly improved forelimb recovery after ICH compared to rehabilitative training without VNS.
