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Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning
Published on: August 21, 2015
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Cortical map plasticity as a function of vagus nerve stimulation rate
E P Buell1, K W Loerwald1, C T Engineer1
1Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA; The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, 800 West Campbell Road, GR 41, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.
Brain Stimulation
|July 25, 2018
Summary
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with tones reshapes the auditory cortex. Moderate VNS rates (30 Hz) effectively enhance neural responses, while low or high rates do not, revealing an optimal VNS pulse rate for cortical plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Cortex Plasticity
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Background:
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with external stimuli can reorganize sensory and motor cortices.
- A 30 Hz VNS train paired with a tone increases neuronal responses in the primary auditory cortex (A1) to similar frequencies.
- The optimal VNS pulse rate for inducing cortical plasticity remains undefined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of VNS pulse rate on cortical plasticity.
- To determine if VNS rate influences the degree of plasticity induced by VNS-tone pairing.
Main Methods:
- Rats were exposed to 16-pulse VNS trains at low (7.5 Hz), moderate (30 Hz), or high (120 Hz) rates.
- VNS was paired with 9 kHz tones, repeated 300 times daily for 20 days.
- Neuronal responses in the primary auditory cortex (A1) were measured.
Main Results:
- Moderate (30 Hz) VNS significantly increased the number and strength of A1 neuronal responses to the paired tone frequency compared to controls.
- Low (7.5 Hz) and high (120 Hz) VNS rates did not produce significant changes in A1 neuronal tuning.
- Cortical plasticity showed an inverted-U relationship with VNS pulse rate.
Conclusions:
- The effectiveness of VNS-tone pairing for inducing cortical plasticity is dependent on the VNS pulse rate.
- An optimal VNS pulse rate exists, demonstrating an inverted-U function.
- These findings help identify precise VNS parameters for therapeutic applications in sensory or motor function restoration.
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