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Updated: Jan 27, 2026
Laboratory Administration of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation taVNS: Technique, Targeting, and Considerations
Published on: January 7, 2019
Interaction of cathodal and anodal stimulations in nerve conduction studies
Takamichi Kanbayashi1, Takaharu Yamauchi2, Yosuke Miyaji1
1Department of Neurology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Kaga 2-11-1, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 1738606, Japan.
Introduction:
In this work we investigated the interaction of cathodal and anodal stimulations in nerve conduction studies (NCSs).
Methods:
Subjects assessed consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. The ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist using 2 bipolar surface electrodes, simulating ordinary NCSs. We were able to independently change the stimulus current value at the distal cathode and the proximal anode.
Results:
The anodal stimulation became more difficult to elicit as the stimulus current at the cathode was increased, whereas the cathodal stimulation became more likely to occur as the stimulus current at the anode was increased.
Discussion:
During bipolar stimulation, the cathodal stimulation suppresses the anodal stimulation, whereas the anodal stimulation assists the cathodal stimulation. This explains the common observation in NCSs that the cathodal stimulation becomes difficult to elicit when the anode is moved away from the nerve. Muscle Nerve 59:713-716, 2019.
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